ROME — An ancient city that shaped early Rome is opening its gates to the public. The Archaeological Park of Gabii, a 70 hectare stretch of Roman countryside on the city’s eastern edge, is welcoming visitors ahead of its official opening at the end of 2026.
“Gabii was at the crossroads of several major communication routes,” said Martina Almonte, Director of the Archaeological Parks and Museums of Praeneste and Gabii (Ministry of Culture). “This is why the site preserves some of the oldest phases in the history of Rome and Lazio.”
Gabii flourished in the Latium vetus, the ancient region of Lazio that predates the rise of Rome. The site’s importance has been documented since the late eighteenth century, when Scottish painter Gavin Hamilton led the first excavations in 1791. Sculptures unearthed then eventually passed to Napoleon Bonaparte and are now held at the Louvre in Paris.
“Today digging continues through the Gabii Project, a field school combining archaeological training with research, run with Tor Vergata University in Rome and the universities of Michigan, Missouri and Bonn,” said Prof. Marcello Mocetta, director of the project and professor at the University of Missouri. “Among the major discoveries is the city’s urban plan, revealed by geophysical surveys with remarkable precision. Excavations have proceeded block by block since 2009,” he added.
Walking through poppy blossoms and cornflowers visitors can also see the Temple of Juno, a sanctuary complex with a theatre, porticoes and shops, built around the mid first century BC, a period when grand sanctuaries rose across Lazio.
Planning a visit
A new partnership between GetYourGuide, the global booking platform for tours and experiences, the park, the Ministry of Culture and Roma Capitale lets visitors explore the site before its official debut. Guided tours in Italian and English run every Saturday and Sunday until July 5, further on in September, led by archaeologists and trained guides.
“We suggest to book a guided visit on the GetYourGuide app for 15 euros to reach monuments faster, said Marta Barberini, Global Destinations Partnerships Lead and on of the representatives of the project.
Since May 2026 a stop at the Metro C station has been renamed “Finocchio, Antica Citta di Gabii,” linking Rome’s transport to lesser known heritage sites. The park sits 30 minutes from central Rome.
The park will officially open at the end of 2026.
