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This is an index to Roman remains in Umbria, including Etruscan and Italic remains. It was first compiled by indexing a number of sources (the most important of which was the Touring Club d'Italia's guide Umbria, referred to here as TCIUMB) and collating the indexes; then, as I've come to know Umbria up close — on foot — I've been adding quite a bit of firsthand information, both new material and corrections.
As thruout my site, by "Umbria" I mean the modern administrative region by that name, which differs significantly from Regio VI Umbria of the Romans. Simply put, the farther north you go in the area, the farther east Roman Umbria was than modern Umbria. Ancient Umbria reached the Adriatic coast in the north, including Ancona and Senigallia (Sena Gallica), both towns excluded on this page; it left in Etruria the entire right bank of the Tiber — including Perugia — which are part of modern Umbria and therefore included here.
The index on this page is organized according to the 92 modern comuni, each one of which, in italics, is linked to its homepage on my site. Within each comune all links are to pages on the Roman town (its ancient name in this color). Vestiges I know of are at least listed, and sometimes linked; conversely all links other than to the comune are specifically to Roman material. Where I say I know of no remains somewhere, that's exactly what I mean: there may be lots, but I'm by no means an expert and just don't know about them.
As of the latest revision of this page (5 Oct 08) there are still rather few links, but I've seen about half of the remains listed and have photographs and other information on about 90% of that half, so if I haven't churned out the webpage yet on some particular item you're interested in, just drop me a line and I'll be glad to help. Similarly with some of my earlier photos, inexpertly scanned: I'm slowly working my way thru my site and rescanning them, but if I haven't got to yours yet, again, that's what God made e‑mail for.
Portaria
church façade has a funerary relief from Carsulae
inscription
S. Giovanni de Butris
remains of a Roman aqueduct, the Ponte Giulio, in the area of Allerona or Allerona Scalo (accounts differ)
cippi relating to the Via Trajana Nova (?); bits of the Via Cassia
remains of a Roman aqueduct, the Ponte Giulio, in the area of Allerona Scalo
loc. Molino, on both banks of the Paglia river: remains of what may have been a ferry crossing.
Sant' Ansano archaeological area: two Roman tombs still visible
Various ruins, among which especially a villa at Pupigliano thought by some, but probably on the mere coincidence of names, to be the home of a C. Popilius, tribune of the plebs.
polygonal masonry walls
in the via La Valle: another stretch of polygonal masonry walls
Palazzo Comunale: lapidary fragments, statues, sarcophagi, stelae, cippi, inscriptions; a puteal and a 1c A.D. votive altar
slight remains of Roman street or road pavement, now visible in the via della Repubblica
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo Farrattini: mosaic
Duomo: the belfry incorporates Roman fragments
Roman cisterns
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Assisi: Assisium
Museo Civico
remains of the forum: now underground; includes an unusual inscription recording the marones, Umbrian magistrates in charge of public works
two beautiful villas in town
according to TCIUMB: on the road to S. Masseo: retaining walls
according to TCIUMB: walls in via S. Agnese
paleochristian sarcophagus; remains of a house in the crypt; according to TCIUMB: church of S. Maria Maggiore: part of a fountain reused over the main door. For the Roman house, that I have not been able to visit yet, I do have a readable copy of the text and diagrams on the panel provided onsite by the Soprintendenza: since it is copyright, I can't publish it online; you'll have to send me an individual e‑mail.
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo Fiumi-Roncalli: remains of a door or gate.
Castelnuovo
Paradiso
according to TCIUMB: Etruscan tomb: urns were found there.
S. Masseo
According to TCIUMB (1978), this rural church has a paleochristian sarcophagus. I have a suspicion it's the one I saw (2004) in S. Maria Maggiore, above.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Dunarobba
according to TCIUMB: church of S. Vittorina: paleochristian altar
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Bettona: Vettona
Etruscan walls
Colle
Etruscan/Roman chamber tomb (2c B.C.)
Bevagna: Mevania
theatre
temple (2c A.D.)
near the Porta Guelfa: remains of baths, mostly a black & white mosaic with marine subjects, lapidary remains
former church of S. Vincenzo: pilasters
according to TCIUMB: church of S. Silvestro: inscriptions
according to TCIUMB: building in the corso Matteotti: major remains, incl. black & white mosaic
Calvi town
Sources of the Clitumnus: fons Clitumni, fonti del Clitunno
the celebrated Tempietto: either one of the last ancient temples known, or one of the oldest Christian churches; no one knows.
Collemancio
abandoned city identified as Urvinum Hortense.
Cascia town
according to TCIUMB: lapidary fragments
Avendita
Cívita: Cursula
according to TCIUMB: many Roman vestiges in the area
Maltignano
according to TCIUMB: fragments & inscriptions; tombs
fraz. Piandoli: loc. Vespia: Vespasiae?
Sometimes identified as a place where Suetonius puts monuments of Vespasian's family; see my diary.
Roccatervi
according to TCIUMB: inscriptions in the church
Villa S. Silvestro
according to TCIUMB: major remains of temple of Ceres
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
A number of Etruscan tombs, with small necropoli at Le Callane and Conventaccio. There ought to be Roman remains as well, since both the Via Cassia and the Via Traiana Nova crossed the territory of the comune, but I'm not aware of any.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Atena
A 3c‑2c tomb was found in the mid‑1930s: among the remains, a black kylix, a lance point
A few hundred meters away, a field of ancient glass and slag suggests a glass kiln in the area.
Buratto (just E of Citerna)
Small finds.
M. Rotondo
Aerial photography shows circular structures at the summit of the mountain, where in the mid‑1980s spot excavations revealed a pavement of crushed earthenware set in mortar, and underneath it, a tomb. Geomagnetic soundings have been rumored; no excavation report has been published yet.
Fighille
A larger group of finds, although scattered. The name Fighille almost certainly derives from the Latin root figul-, suggesting a potter's workshop.
Pistrino
Significant finds of potsherds and some tombs have been reported. The name Pistrino derives from Latin pistrinum, a flour mill.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Città di Castello: Tifernum Tiberinum
the Canoscio hoard: a treasure of Late Antique and paleochristian silver
Palazzo Comunale: lapidary collection
Terme di Fontecchio
according to TCIUMB: spa mentioned by Pliny the Younger (remains?)
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
for the territory of the comune, a long and informative offsite by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage (Benin Culturali) page once had good information. Foreseeing it would go belly-up, I kept the text of it: you can contact me.
Villa Scirca
Roman bridge
Deruta town
Palazzo Comunale: lapidary fragments & inscriptions
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune, although the frazione of Colonnetta is said to have been named for a Roman milestone — a "little column" — found there
Ferentillo town
early Lombard lapidary remains in at least one house wall
S. Pietro in Valle
votive cippus, lapidary fragments, inscriptions, 5 sarcophagi (Dionysus & Pan; Amor & Psyche; boar & antelope hunt; marine scenes); altar constructed out of 2 more sarcophagi
church of S. Maria Vecchia: Mithraic cippus (CIL VI.3723; very large and fully readable photo available, just ask)
Foligno: Fulginium, Fulginia, Fulginiae
Museo archeologico del Palazzo Trinci: several major sculptures and inscriptions
Búdino
farmhouse, actually the church of S. Angelo del Rosario, built in part of Roman masonry
Roman travertine blocks thruout the village
Colfiorito
according to TCIUMB: Roman materials reused to build church of S. Maria di Plestia; remains of Italic and Roman buildings.
Fiamenga (*Flaminica)
about 2 km E: ruins of tombs (TCIUMB says south, but that's a mistake)
Roman travertine blocks thruout the village; a possible sarcophagus
Pieve Fanonica
Roman bridge
S. Giovanni Profiamma (Forum Flaminii)
Fossato di Vico: (name unknown)
a very ruined tower, the Torrione, is said by some to be 6c Byzantine.
Fossato Borgo
sarcophagus on the grounds of the church of S. Cristoforo
Palazzolo
bridge
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Giano town
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo del Municipio: remains of a villa; Palazzo Pretorio: mosaic
Bastardo
Via Flaminia bridge nearby: see Cavallara, in the comune of Gualdo Cattaneo.
Sumigni
At least one stray piece of Roman stone in front of the ruined castle.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Popular etymology ascribes the name of the town to the god Jupiter or Jove (in modern Italian, Giove), and has manufactured a temple of Jupiter in the area. No such temple has been found, and the origin of the town's name is almost certainly jugum, "crest" or "ridge", which is a good topographical description of its site.
Cavallara
Via Flaminia bridge, referred to (but only in tourist literature) as the Ponte del Diavolo.
Collesecco (actually, about 1 km SE)
Roman travertine blocks in the church of S. Angelo Sconcolo.
Gualdo: Tadinum
The site of the important 6c battle variously referred to as Tadinum, Tagina, etc. is very likely to be placed in the frazione of Caprara. For the battle, see J. B. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, Chap. XIX. Guided by some long-known Roman stone strewn around in the plain to the west of town, excavations were started in 2004 that have already uncovered public baths, a large domus, and what appears to be a market, maybe for cattle.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Agello
according to TCIUMB: tombs, apparently of soldiers at the time of Hannibal's invasion
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Massa Martana
several inscriptions in the gate, including one of Hadrian's relating to his restoration of the Via Flaminia.
Ponte Fonnaia (Ponte Fondaia)
S. Fidenzio
according to TCIUMB: tombstone; tombs
S. Maria in Pantano: Vicus ad Martis
The very early medieval church incorporates a late Imperial building; also, Roman spolia — inscriptions and sculpture — are found both inside and outside the church, including in the main altar. A small site very close to the building has been under excavation since 2008.
loc. Villa S. Faustino
the abbey is constructed in large part of Roman masonry; inscriptions in the walls
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
The 11c abbey church of S. Lorenzo in Nifili is partly constructed out of the remains of a 1c Roman tower tomb.
Etruscan tombs have been excavated nearby, and the site is apparently open.
Montefalco town
Museo S. Francesco: small archaeological section: reliefs, about 4 inscriptions, etc.; also, a cippus used as holy water stoup.
Montefranco town
inscriptions
loc. Case S. Pietro
The casa Serinaldi includes several Roman lapidary remains in its walls.
M. Moro
Excavations in 2000 were yielding Picene-looking bronze votive statuettes.
Roman tombs have been found in the hamlet of Poggio della Croce.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Monteleone: Brufa
This is where the famous Etruscan chariot, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was found. A full-sized replica is on display in town with good explanatory material: see my diary.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Roman remains have reportedly been found in S. Maria di Sette, which some identify as having been Pitulum Mergens.
Narni: Narnia, Nequinum
the famous bridge, the largest in the Roman world
according to TCIUMB: Cathedral: pieces of the city walls, inside & outside the church
Arco del Vescovo: ruins of gate
in the basement of the Cassa del Risparmio (a bank): pavement (part of the platform of the forum)
according to TCIUMB: Loggia dei Priori: lion from a funerary monument; statue base
Palazzo del Podestà: lapidary fragments, inscriptions, tomb
church of S. Maria in Pensole (in the lower, rear annex to the actual church): reservoir with intact plaster; tomb with arcosolium. I've been in there, and it's not impressive, but it's spooky enough, with bones of the recently dead lying around by handfuls.
according to TCIUMB: nearby (1 km): substructure of the Via Flaminia
2 km S along the Via Flaminia: pre-Roman rock carvings
S. Angelo in Massa
the abbey is built on the ruins of a 2c villa
Stifone
In 2005, a Roman shipyard was discovered, which is now being excavated. I haven't yet visited the site: see Christian Armadori's page.
Nocera: Nuceria Camellaria
according to TCIUMB: Pinacoteca Comunale: lapidary section includes inscriptions, a milestone of Vespasian indicating the turnoff to Ancona (essentially a Roman highway sign), a cippus dedicated to Gallienus, a portrait-bust of a woman of the imperial family, fragments of mosaic.
fraz. Nocera Scalo: loc. Le Spugne
loc. Capannacce: substructures
loc. Cartiera: tombs
Maestà del Picchio: aqueduct-related remains
various small substructures between Nocera and Gaifana
Norcia: Nursia
S. Benedetto: in the crypt can be seen the apse of a building, with opus reticulatum
scattered thru town (in walls, doorjambs of houses, etc.): inscriptions
church of the Confraternità di S.Lorenzo: tombstones
the Castellina: statue, popularly said to be of Vespasia Polla (mother of Vespasian)
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo Colizzi: lapidary fragments, 3 cippi with inscriptions
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo Comunale: inscription
Ancarano:
Roman inscription in front of the smaller church
fraz. Campi:
nice monumental inscription in the church of S. Andrea
according to TCIUMB: many fragments of inscriptions in the walls of the church of S. Salvatore
Orvieto: Urbs Vetus (early medieval name); Volsinii Veteres?, Fanum Voltumnae??, Salpinum??
Museo Archeologico Nazionale in the Palazzo dei Papi: arches, milestones, statues, Etruscan remains
Temple of the Belvedere: Etruscan tetrastyle temple of the ?5c B.C.
Museo Claudio Faina: Etruscan finds: head of Larth Cupures Aranthia, the "Venus of Cannicella", architectural fragments of the temples of the Belvedere and of the via S. Leonardo (420 B.C.), Etruscan sarcophagus from Torre S. Severo; Etruscan vases with scenes of afterlife (the Vanth collection); pottery (buccheri), jewelry, etc.
Abbey of SS. Severo e Martirio
according to TCIUMB: reliefs
according to TCIUMB: S. Giovanni Evangelista: 4c A.D. column supports the holy water stoup
according to TCIUMB: Scuola Militare di Educazione Fisica: Etruscan oven or kiln
Crocifisso di Tufo
Sette Camini
2 Etruscan tombs the paintings are now in the Museo Archeologico of Florence. To visit the tombs themselves, ask the custodian of the necropolis of Crocifisso di Tufo
Otricoli town: hundreds of lapidary remains, including some inscriptions, scattered throughout the town
Crypt of the church of S. Maria Assunta: massive Roman walls.
Ocriculum, about 2 km S of the modern town: theatre, building, baths with marine mosaic, amphitheatre. Excavations at Ocriculum in the late 18c yielded several important finds, now in the Vatican Museums; the most important of them are a large mosaic in the Sala Rotonda (detail) and the famous Otricoli Jupiter, a head 60 cm high, apparently from a colossal statue of the god.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Quarantaia: remains of a Roman villa
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Perugia: Perusia
the so‑called Etruscan arch, which does contain Etruscan material
the Museo archeological Nazionale dell' Umbria is an immense repository of Roman but mostly Etruscan material: inscriptions, sarcophagi, pottery, etc. The ground floor of the cloister includes a reconstruction of the transported interior of the Tomb of the Hescanas.
Ipogeo dei Volumni
fraz. S. Giovanni del Pantano
the Tomba del Faggeto, an Etruscan tomb of exceptional interest. (The TCIUMB reports this as a "hypogeum" at "Pantano, in the frazione of Colle Umberto I": all of which is very loose writing. The tomb is above ground.)
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
An old stone road, said to be Roman, undoubtedly existed thru at least 1995, and photographs of it appear in printed works. It is reported to be nearly destroyed now; I am in doubt as to whether I saw it or not: here is what I did see.
For the question of whether the emperor Pertinax may have been born here, see my note to the Historia Augusta, Pert. 1.2.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
somewhere in the territory of the comune an inscribed Etruscan cippus has been found.
Castel Rubello
Etruscan tomb of the Hescanas family, with Etruscan paintings now removed from this remote place, to the Museo Archeologico in Perugia, (q.v.)
Saccovescio
Roman altar
S. Anatolia town
church of S. Maria delle Grazie: 2 Roman inscriptions
loc. Colle Plinio
walls, mosaics, marble remains: possibly Pliny the Younger's villa "in Tuscis"
A Roman or pre-Roman shrine was discovered on M. Peglia in the late 1990's.
loc. Poggio delle Civitelle
Italic (pre-Roman) and Roman remains: excavations underway.
San Gemini: Casuentum
according to TCIUMB: mosaics
according to TCIUMB: S. Francesco: capital, lapidary fragments incl. ?Roman lion
Carsulae
Roman city, abandoned in Late Antiquity: includes a theatre, an amphitheatre, a forum, several streets, a gate with adjacent monumental tombs, and a paleochristian church of S. Damiano.
S of town, on road to Narni, remains of bridges of the Via Flaminia:
Ponte Calamone
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Sigillo: Suillum?
remains of the important bridge of Spiano, connected with the Via Flaminia
mysterious stone arc prominently displayed in front of the town hall, appears to be the margin of a Roman well?
Spello: Hispellum
a fairly well-preserved circuit of Roman walls, with 3 Roman gates and traces of 3 more
aqueduct, mostly underground; several miles long from the source, and including distribution conduits within the town, as well as a remote aqueduct-bridge (the Ponte di Parasacco)
baths (excavations in the lower town, 1998)
a largish lapidary collection in the Palazzo Comunale includes many inscriptions, among which the famous Edict of Constantine (CIL11.5265 = ILS 705).
vestiges of an apparent temple on the grounds of the Villa Fidelia
traces of a theatre
black-and‑white mosaics said to be in the boiler room of the city's hospital; I've been unable to verify whether they do exist in fact.
Collepino
S. Maria del Mausoleo
large Roman tomb turned into a church in the Middle Ages
Spoleto: Spoletium
amphitheatre
house, identified by some with that of Vespasia Polla mother of Vespasian (but this is very likely sheer boosterism), with painted walls.
Museo Civico: sarcophagus of Pontia, inscriptions, 3c B.C. cippi with archaic Latin inscriptions (lex Spoletina), Etruscan and other pottery, etc.
Piazza del Duomo: sarcophagus used as a fountain
Arch of Drusus
nearby, church of S. Salvatore: temple. For now, only a Late Antique capital onsite, but this is a major Roman monument, and will eventually get its own page.
according to TCIUMB: miscellaneous small buildings, one of which a so‑called "basilica"
church of S. Gregorio della Sinagoga: 20‑meter-long Roman hallway, mosaic pavement
church of S. Gregorio Maggiore: built of Roman material
near S. Gregorio Maggiore: mosaic (opus spicatum or herringbone pattern)
pre-Roman and Roman walls 2 km long, 5c B.C. cyclopean work thru the Augustan period, topped by medieval
remains of 2c A.D. baths restored in 4c
Palazzo Gentiletti: important remains of building of uncertain purpose: portico, pilasters, capitals
Rocca: pre-Roman & Roman walls
nearby, church of S. Pietro: rectory wall has embedded sculptures
nearby, church of S. Ponziano: Roman lapidary material and spolia, including a column that might conceivably be the spina of a local circus
fraz. Collerisana
according to TCIUMB: chamber tomb of the gens Codonia
fraz. Pontebari
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
Terni: Interamnia Nahars
according to TCIUMB: Palazzo dei Mazzancolli: fragments of Roman marble
according to TCIUMB: 200 m of walls
according to TCIUMB: Museo Preistorico: also contains altars, reliefs (incl. one showing Mithra killing a bull), inscriptions, paleochristian sarcophagi, lapidary fragments, etc.
according to TCIUMB: the nearby church of S. Maria del Monumento was constructed out of a funerary monument; there are still inscriptions and fragments
fraz. Cesi
former church of S. Andrea, in town: Roman lapidary material in walls
Monte Torre Maggiore: Italic (pre-Roman) shrine
S. Erasmo: pre-Roman polygonal masonry walls
fraz. Marmore: Cascata delle Marmore
the natural-looking waterfall was in fact initially the work of Roman engineers in 271 B.C.
Todi: Tuder
Museo Etrusco-Romano: statues, pottery, lapidary fragments, coins, household objects, Etruscan weight (?), altar. A replica of the celebrated Todi Mars found here (the original is in the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco in the Vatican).
Etruscan walls
Porta Marzia: medieval gate constructed of Roman stone masonry
the "Nicchioni", 4 monumental Roman niches (has sometimes been called, mistakenly, the "Foro Romano", as posted on local signs even).
Roman Forum: the pavement of the true forum has been found deep underground, under Todi's successor main square, the Piazza del Popolo; some Roman cisterns can now be visited: public entrance on the Via del Monte. For information call (075) 894.4148. (Thanks to Dr. Maud Gleason for this heads‑up, since my last visit to Todi.)
amphitheatre: very slight remains
Cacciano
at least one stray piece of Roman stone reused in a house wall
Figareto (Ficareto)
Torgiano town
The Lungarotti wine museum includes items related to Roman wine-making
Trevi: Trebiae
Roman walls (although opinion is divided)
finds in the Palazzo Valenti
finds in the Pinacoteca
ex-cathedral S. Emiliano: inscription
surrounding comune: several small churches include Roman lapidary material
S. Apollinare
S. Maria di Pietrarossa
many archaeological remains; pilasters and columns reused in the church. A large inscription, apparently a monumental dedication to Iupiter Optimus Maximus, has been recently found. It's usually considered that Pietrarossa was the main town of Trevi in Roman times, and there is an early medieval tradition of Roman baths here.
according to TCIUMB: site of the battle of Lake Trasimene; there are said to be some ustrina (Roman crematory ovens) extant, but I have not seen them. See my diary, 7 Sep 98.
I know of no certain Roman remains within the territory of the comune; but have heard rumors of "Etruscan" finds on the top of M. Acuto. Also, the 19c scholar Mariano Guardabassi is reported to have felt — I've been unable so far to find such a statement of his in print — that a small polygonal building in Lame (sometimes called Lama), about 1 km N of town, is Etruscan; if so, this would be exceptional, since it doesn't appear to be funerary.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
I know of no Roman remains within the territory of the comune.
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Index updated: 10 Jun 20