Discover Carsulae: A Guided Tour of Ancient Roman Splendor
Carsulae, an archaeological site along the Via Flaminia in Umbrian province of Terni, is an ancient Roman city that is being exceptionally well preserved.
Thanks to different records discovered and now preserved in the Visitor and Documentation Center, it has been possible to learn a lot about the qualities with which it was erected as well as the reasons for its abandonment in medieval times.
Visitors can tour both the excavations and the center with a guide and explore the structures used by the ancient peoples who lived there.
The tragic story of Carsulae
Carsulae, located between the municipalities of Terni and San Gemini, was founded in pre-Roman times and reached its peak magnificence during the Roman period. The time of greatest expansion occurred around 200 BC, when the Via Flaminia was created, allowing the city to flourish significantly economically.
Local mountain communities relocated to Carsulae to enhance their living conditions. However, the approval didn’t stay long. After a short time, during the same century, the town would also fall into ruin: that branch of the Via Flaminia lost importance in the commercial sphere, and as a result, the city was isolated.
Furthermore, earthquakes were common, and one of them nearly destroyed it before it was abandoned in the Middle Ages.
Carsuale, guided tour
Guided tours of the archeological region and the Visitor and Documentation Center are only available by reservation, with charges varying according to the number of participants.
During your visit to the archeological site, you will learn about the structure of a Roman city. The excavations, which are still ongoing, have brought to light various structures: the Baths, the Church of Saints Cosma and Damiano built in medieval times using the remains of what the earthquake had destroyed; the Basilica, in which citizens gathered to discuss in meetings; the Cistern, which collected water for the people; the Theater and the Amphitheater, where cultural events are still held today; and other public buildings whose use is unclear with marble
However, in the center, remains of ordinary goods, funeral objects, and amphorae discovered during excavations are on exhibit, with didactic panels explaining the site’s history.
Carsuale, open hours
The site is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and the ticket office is open from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Tickets may also be purchased online.
During the summer, the Carsulae theater transforms into the ideal environment for theater reviews, cultural events, and concerts, where you may watch a production while sitting in a theater that has played a significant role in Roman history.
