Appian Way Archaeological Park, restoration of the Tomb of the Pancras has begun

As of Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the Tomb of the Pancrazi, located within thearchaeological area of the Via Latina Tombs, will be temporarily closed to visitors to allow restoration work on the frescoes in the burial chamber. The beginning of these works represents a crucial phase in the protection and enhancement activities carried out by the Appia Antica Archaeological Park, which has long been committed to the preservation of one of the most relevant funerary complexes of the Roman suburbs.

The Tomba dei Pancrazi, characterized by a remarkable historical value and a particular structural fragility, has been the subject of analysis and control by the Park for years. This first intervention is part of a broader and more articulated program aimed at assessing the state of conservation of the surfaces and carrying out a series of diagnostic investigations and operational tests, which are essential to accurately establish future restoration strategies.

Parallel to the recovery activities, the communication project Diario di cantiere dalla via Latina, designed to narrate and share with the public the different phases of the intervention, is starting. Through this narrative journey it will be possible to delve into the studies underway, discover some technical aspects of the conservation operations and enhance the skills of the professionals involved, offering a direct glimpse into a sector that is often little visible but essential for the protection of cultural heritage.

To make up for the temporary closure of the Tomba dei Pancrazi, the new tour itinerary will also include access to the area of the so-called mansio, a complex of buildings probably intended for stopping and receiving travelers along the Via Latina, which is not normally accessible to the public.

Archaeological investigations conducted between 1998 and 2006 brought to light an articulated set of rooms, some of which had already been documented in the 19th-century excavations carried out by Lorenzo Fortunati. The mansio is located in the vicinity of the Baccelli Tomb and was part of a building complex consisting of at least three structures. The oldest building, made of opus reticulatum, was a sepulcher facing the Via Latina. Later arose three tabernae and the mansio proper, intended for the hospitality of travelers. Other rooms, separated by a corridor with direct access from the street, belonged to a two-story building constructed of brick and tufa blocks, one of which still preserves a floor decorated with geometric mosaic.

In the area near the Tomb of the Valeri, research has also uncovered a bath building equipped with an elaborate system of hydraulic canalizations, as well as a fountain and a nymphaeum. The walls were covered in marble, the floors decorated with mosaics, and some rooms still preserve terracotta tubules used for heating.

A visit to the area of the so-called mansio is an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the ancient Via Latina.

To participate in the visits, simply select the ticket Tombs of the Via Latina | Guided tour and the fare: full 6€ / reduced 2€ / free. Admission is free for Mia Appia Card holders upon booking from the app or Italian Museums portal. Tickets can be purchased online at the Musei Italiani website; by phone with the Musei Italiani app available on Google Play and the App Store; on the day itself from the totems located at the entrance to the site, exclusively by electronic payment card.

Appian Way Archaeological Park, restoration of the Tomb of the Pancras has begun

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