A Journey into the Roman City

Alba Fucens city Rome - Arabstoday Alba Fucens, an ancient Roman city at the base of Monte Velino (Province of Aquila), is an archaeological jewel that one should most definitely explore. In fact, the ruins that emerged from excavations initiated by Fernand De Visscher in 1949 are truly remarkable. The city constantly allied with Rome and helped defend the Empire against the Hannibal during the Second Punic War. It continued to demonstrate its loyalty during the Social War. However, for having taken the side of Marius against Sulla, its territory was parcelled up and given to veterans of Sulla’s lieutenants. Having been part of the war between Pompey and Caesar, the city became a stronghold for the Anti-Caesareans commanded by Domitius Ahenobarbus, who later surrendered to Caesar. In the Imperial Age, Alba Fucens was thriving and prosperous; its archaeological remains testify to such, including a dominating amphitheatre that was commissioned by the Praetorian prefect Naevius Macro. Due to the succession of events, Macro was condemned by Caligula and stripped off his office, he soon committed suicide, but not before he requested the amphitheatre’s construction in order to leave his legacy on his birthplace. Among other discoveries within the last century, one can also admire the marketplace, the thermal spas that are rich in mosaics and marine representations, the baths and the pagan chapel of Hercules. Structured as a typical Roman fortress, the city developed along a grid of the ancient decumanus and cardo roads. Taking the Decumanus Maximus (present day Via del Miliario) visitors can see an ancient domus romana divided into apartments featuring dry-wall construction, characteristic mosaics and typical pagan votive spaces as well as stroll along its columns and peristiles raised up again by archaeologists. The enormous walls defending the city have also been very well preserved with four entrances and extend up to 3 km around the inhabited zones.   Remnants of the city’s theatre on the Pettorine Hill evoke the image of a rich cultural life financed by the wealthy merchants of the day. The subterranean zone, first explored by the Irish archaeologist Dodwell, reveals an efficient sewage system in polygonal masonry, a unique example in all of Italy that is the subject of study by both archaeologists and speleologists. Of particular interest would be the Church of San Pietro, from the 12th Century, partially destroyed by the earthquake of 1915. Built on the city’s highest hill – above a pagan crypt making up the Temple of Apollo – the Christian church still preserves excellent sculpture work, such as the spiral columns of the iconostasis done in the Cosmatesque style. The site is always open, and visitors can see it all for free unless they prefer a guided visit. Headstones, coins, vases, statues and other finds from Alba Fucens are also on view in the museums of Chieti and Celano. From / ITALIA website