Ancient City of Gabii Reopens for Special Tours Near Rome
Rome, June 15 – Just twenty minutes from the heart of the Capital, along the ancient Prenestina road, one of Lazio’s most fascinating and lesser-known archaeological sites, Gabii, has reopened. Special preview tours are now available, offering a glimpse into the ancient Latin city before its official opening later this year.
Gabii, historically linked to the origins of Rome and the formation of the Republic, is traditionally believed to be where Romulus and Remus received their education, encompassing Greek studies and the art of the symposium. This site continues to yield discoveries that are rewriting the history of the Roman world.
Exclusive Access to Ongoing Excavations
The Gabii Archaeological Park is once again welcoming the public with special visits, providing early access ahead of its official reopening. “This is a rural area within Rome’s Municipio VI, delle Torri. It can now also be reached by a shuttle from the Finocchio C metro station, which has been renamed ‘Finocchio-Antica Città di Gabii’,” explains Martina Almonte, director of the Praeneste and Gabii Museums and Archaeological Parks. “Our goal is to enhance an area with great cultural and educational potential, also through slower, more conscious tourism.”
The ongoing excavations are being conducted as part of the Gabii Project, in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Universities of Michigan and Missouri. These efforts are bringing to light new elements of the ancient city’s urban structure. “Excavations began in 2009, and since then, we have been working with annual campaigns to reconstruct the city’s life and its transformations over time,” says Anna Gallone, field director of the Gabii Project.
New Discoveries, Including a Monumental Basin
“We have investigated five blocks, with large domus, public and private buildings. In recent years, we have focused on the central sector of the city, where a monumental water basin, likely connected to the Republican-era public square, has just emerged.”
The valorization project now aims to broaden the site’s accessibility and integrate it into new sustainable cultural tourism circuits. These special visits, thanks to a partnership between GetYourGuide, the Gabii Archaeological Park, the Ministry of Culture, and Roma Capitale, allow early access to the park, accompanied by qualified guides and offering insights into the ongoing discoveries.
“Gabii is one of the most extraordinary and least-known places in the Roman territory,” states Marta Barberini, Global Lead Destination Marketing & Partnerships at GetYourGuide. “Rome continues to welcome millions of visitors every year, but the demand for experiences beyond the well-trodden paths is growing. And Gabii is a unique opportunity.”
How to Visit the Gabii Archaeological Park
Special tours are available on weekends until July 5, 2026, and include early access to the 70-hectare site before its official opening. From May 2026, the park is also accessible by metro: the Finocchio C line station has been renamed “Finocchio-Antica Città di Gabii,” with a shuttle service from the station. Tours, organized by GetYourGuide, can be booked through their platform: getyourguide.com.
The city authorities have emphasized the importance of balancing tourism with the quality of life for residents, as highlighted by Onorato regarding tourism in Rome. Recent archaeological discoveries in other parts of Rome, such as monumental basins and tombs in Pietralata, and a Roman road found at the Santa Palomba waste-to-energy plant construction site, underscore the rich archaeological heritage of the region.
The reopening of Gabii offers a unique opportunity for both locals and tourists to delve into the ancient history of the Roman countryside and witness ongoing archaeological work firsthand, contributing to a deeper understanding of this historically significant area.
Source: roma.corriere.it
