During the opening of the via Merulana in 1874, a large complex of ancient buildings over the Mura Serviane was discovered by chance, although the auditorium was the only structure preserved.
The auditorium was a large, apsidal room about 24m long, which was divided into four parts: a vestibule on the southeastern end, a kind of rectangular hall (13m long and 5m wide); the main hall (11m wide and 13m long), an exedra with steps with a radius of about 5m and a double access ramp on the southwestern end about 3m wide.
The complex, under the ground at the time, was built in a tufa network. In the rectangular hall, a well-known place of worship, there were six niches for each wall, decorated with statues that seemed alive.
The marble decorations were mostly used on the ledges of the niches and the esedra steps.
The material used was the Caristio marble commonly called "cipollino". This apsidal hall, is part of the greater complex and was brought to light in 1874 by Vespignani and Visconti, following excavation works required by the Piano Regolatore for the new Umbertino suburb with the Piazza Vittorio of today as its centre.
Except for this apsidal hall, the entire complex, known as the Villa di Mecenate, where there was the Villa Caetani, was demolished. This hall was built on a section of the Mura Serviane departing from the Porta Esquilina and placed in the embankment behind them.
|
 | | | I Municipio
Rione XV - Esquilino
Regio V - Esquiliae
HOURS:
From tuesday to saturday 9-19 (summer hours 1/4 - 30/9) o 9-17 (1/10 - 31/3)
Sunday and holidays: 9-13
Closed on Mondays |  |
|
