The Appia Antica Archaeological Park gets bigger and richer thanks to the acquisition by the State, after years of negotiations, of an important archaeological complex that was until now privately owned and unknown to most: the Sant’Urbano Mausoleum, a monumental brick tomb from the 4th century AD with 10-meter high walls and a front stairway.
The building, located not far from the famous Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella in one of the most evocative part of the Via Appia, owes its name to an episode cited by Christian sources: the Roman matron Marmenia, after converting to Christianity, would have transported here, in an area of her property, the remains of the saint, bishop and martyr, already kept in the Catacombs of Pretestato. In the 13th century the tomb was transformed into a fortified tower, the Borgiani tower, and its remains are still visible.
With the acquisition, the tampering carried out over the years within the area was eliminated, mostly structures leaning against the monument or built in its vicinity that compromised its value. The entrance from the Via Appia will also be restored and archaeological restorations and investigations will be launched to clarify the many still unknown aspects of this fascinating monument and allow everyone to admire the mausoleum in its ancient splendor.
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