Vicus Caprarius – City of Water
Vicus Caprarius, known as the “City of Water,” is an underground archaeological area in the heart of Rome, lying beneath the Trevi district just steps from the Trevi Fountain. Discovered during construction works in 1999, the site preserves the remains of a Roman insula (apartment block) from the 1st to 5th centuries CE, through which one of the ancient aqueducts — the Aqua Virgo — passed before its waters continued on to supply Rome’s public fountains. The excavation is one of the most compelling examples of Rome’s layered subterranean archaeology.
At a glance
- Type
- Underground archaeological site (Roman insula and aqueduct remains)
- Period
- 1st century BCE – 5th century CE
- Style
- Roman Imperial domestic and hydraulic architecture
- Location
- Vicolo del Puttarello 25, 00187 Roma (Trevi district)
- Coordinates
- 41.9004° N, 12.4841° E
Overview
The site takes its name from the ancient Vicus Caprarius, a Roman street quarter, and from the discovery of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct channel running through it. The Aqua Virgo, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa in 19 BCE and still supplying the Trevi Fountain today, is one of the most extraordinary examples of ancient Roman hydraulic engineering in continuous use. The underground museum opened to the public in 2001 and has since become an important complement to the nearby Trevi Fountain experience, providing the historical context behind Rome’s most famous water feature.
History
The Aqua Virgo aqueduct was built in 19 BCE by Marcus Agrippa, Augustus’s general and son-in-law, to supply the baths he constructed in the Campus Martius. The aqueduct drew water from springs in the Alban Hills and entered the city running mostly underground, a feature that helped preserve it through the medieval period when other Roman aqueducts were cut. The residential insula on the site was occupied through late antiquity; evidence of domestic use, mosaic floors, and water infrastructure were all found during the 1999 excavation. The Aqua Virgo’s route was later incorporated into the medieval and Renaissance urban fabric that culminates in the Trevi Fountain, completed by Nicola Salvi in 1762.
What you see
Visitors descend to see the preserved remains of the Roman apartment block, including sections of wall, floor surfaces, and the visible channel of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. Interpretive displays explain the Roman water supply system and daily life in the insula. The flow of water through the ancient channel is still audible in parts of the site, creating a direct sensory link to the ancient city’s hydraulic infrastructure. Finds from the excavation, including ceramic and glass objects, are displayed in context.
Cultural significance
Vicus Caprarius is significant both as evidence of Rome’s extraordinary urban archaeology and as a demonstration of the continuity of ancient Roman hydraulic engineering into the present day. The Aqua Virgo’s survival and continued use through two millennia is unparalleled among Roman aqueducts and makes the site a key interpretive resource for understanding Roman water infrastructure and its modern legacy.
Practical information
- Address
- Vicolo del Puttarello 25, 00187 Roma
- Nearest landmark
- Trevi Fountain, approximately 50 metres
- Opening hours
- Check official website for current visiting hours and ticket prices
Getting there
The site is located in the Trevi district of central Rome, approximately 50 metres from the Trevi Fountain. The nearest Metro station is Barberini on Line A, a 10-minute walk. Bus lines serving Via del Tritone and Via del Corso stop nearby. The area is fully accessible on foot from the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and Piazza Venezia.