Rome opens its doors to its lesser-known treasures. In fact, the Special Superintendence of Rome is promoting a series of free extraordinary openings that allows visitors to visit a dozen places usually closed to the public or difficult to access. The initiative, which is part of the calendar of European Heritage Days, offers the opportunity to discover spaces that weave together art, architecture and archaeology, enriching knowledge of the capital’s cultural heritage.
“The month of September, also thanks to the European Heritage Days, represents an ideal opportunity to renew the link between citizens and cultural places. With these openings we want to offer new keys to interpreting our past, combining protection, research and enhancement,” said Rome Special Superintendent Daniela Porro, presenting the program.
The calendar opened with the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, usually always accessible, for which, however, two extraordinary evening openings have been scheduled on September 13 and 20. Doors were also open to the Chapel of Cardinal Bessarion inside the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles. Guided tours of about twenty minutes, in groups of ten, were held on September 13 and 20 and will be repeated on September 27 and October 4. Available times are 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with reservations required via online form.
The Mausoleum of St. Helena, one of the most significant monuments of late antique Rome, will open its doors on Sept. 27 with special evening openings from 6:30 to 9:15 pm. Again, visits are free and do not require reservations. Churches included in the program include that of Saints Nereus and Achilleus, which will welcome visitors on Sept. 27 and 28. Guided tours, reserved for groups of twenty-five, will be held on the 27th at 5, 6 and 7 p.m., and on the 28th at 4, 5 and 6 p.m., with reservations required. September 27 will also feature the Temple of Minerva Medica, a rare example of late antique architecture, where will be
organized guided tours for groups of thirty people at 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.
On the same weekend, theArch of Malborghetto, a Roman-era structure linked to the events of Constantine, will be open with free admission: on Sept. 27 from 3 to 10 p.m. and on Sept. 28 from 3 to 11 p.m. The religious sites involved also include the Church of Saints Blaise and Charles at Cantinari, which will be accessible on September 27 and 28 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Also during the same period, the Conference Hall at Ponti di Nona will also open, with visits on Sept. 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., by reservation via email to the dedicated address of the Superintendency. Another opportunity not to be missed will be the evening visit to Palazzo Mattei, scheduled on Sept. 27 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., with guided tours and reservations required.
The program is also enriched with openings related to the worship and memory of ancient Rome. The Fountain of Anna Perenna, a place charged with historical and religious significance, will be open for visits on Sept. 27 with guided tours between 9:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. This will be followed by new openings on Oct. 4 and 11 and Nov. 8 and 22. TheRiver Harbor Emporium can be accessed on September 27 and subsequent Fridays in October, with guided tours for groups of forty people at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. On September 28, another special opening of the Underground Basilica of Porta Maggiore is scheduled, with guided tours for groups of fifteen people at the 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. shifts. On the same day, it will be possible to discover Villa Anagnina, with free access from 5 to 9 p.m.
Reservations can be made by going to the website of the Special Superintendence of Rome. The busy September and October calendar is therefore proposed as a journey through places often excluded from the usual tourist circuits, but of great historical and artistic value. An opportunity for citizens and visitors to get to know a less obvious Rome, where heritage protection meets the possibility of new cultural experiences.
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| Rome opens its hidden treasures: a program of free visits to little-known sites, here are which ones |
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