Rome’s Metro C subway line has been facing significant delays due to the discovery of archeological sites during the excavation process. The city of Rome is a living palimpsest, with its modern topography resting atop the remains of the previous city. Ancient Romans would build right on top of the foundation of old structures, rather than removing every remnant of an old structure to make way for a new one. As a result, the city’s underground is a layered history of ancient ruins, palaces, churches, and monuments.

Rome’s metro system is one of the smallest in Europe, with only three lines. The three lines are Line A (orange), Line B (blue), and Line C (green). Line A runs from Battistini to Anagnina, Line B connects Rebibbia to Laurentina, and Line C runs from Pantano to San Giovanni.

The Metro C subway line in Rome is currently operational with 22 stations. The line runs from Monte Compatri-Pantano in the eastern suburbs of Rome to San Giovanni near the city center, where it meets Line A. The line is the first fully automated subway line in Rome. The construction of the line was delayed due to the discovery of archeological sites during the excavation process. The line was opened in three stages: the first section, between Monte Compatri-Pantano and Parco di Centocelle, opened on 9 November 2014; the second, from Parco di Centocelle to Lodi, opened on 29 June 2015; and the third, from Lodi to San Giovanni, opened on 12 May 2018.

The construction of the Metro C subway line has been a slow and arduous process due to the need for meticulous assessment of potential effects on known structures, as well as what may lie beneath the surface. Nearly every ventilation shaft and exploratory excavation at a planned train station along the line has unearthed astonishing vestiges of the city’s past. The discoveries have slowed the progress of the already-ponderous Metro C subway line from the outer suburbs to the Colosseum.

The construction of Rome’s first subway line, Metro B, began under dictator Benito Mussolini in 1930. Many artifacts were heedlessly discarded in the interests of finishing the project, which was stalled by the outbreak of World War II and not finished until 1955. Half a century later, things hadn’t gotten much better. A parking garage hastily erected to accommodate visitors for the 2000 Vatican Great Jubilee saw similar disregard.

The new Metro C line will run east to west through the very heart of what used to be ancient Rome. While the actual tunnels for the Metro are not a problem, the stations, exits, and air ducts present major problems in many locations. Archaeological discoveries have stalled the construction of Metro C since 2006. Among these discoveries are the Aurelian Walls and Emperor Hadrian’s “Athenaeum,” an ancient, covered amphitheater.

The excavation process for the Metro C subway line has brought Roman history to the surface, unearthing petrified peach pits, an entire military barracks, and other ancient treasures. The discoveries have been so significant that the city has had to revise its plans for the subway line to accommodate the newly discovered archeological sites.

The excavation process for Rome’s Metro C subway line has been a slow and arduous process due to the discovery of archeological sites during the excavation process. The discoveries have been so significant that the city has had to revise its plans for the subway line to accommodate the newly discovered archeological sites. The city of Rome is a living palimpsest, with its modern topography resting atop the remains of the previous city. The discoveries have brought Roman history to the surface, unearthing petrified peach pits, an entire military barracks, and other ancient treasures.