Rome, Saxa Rubra mausoleums reopen on European Heritage Days

After 15 years and a major restoration, the Nasoni and Fadilla mausoleums, located in Rome ’s Saxa Rubra area, reopen to the public on the occasion of European Heritage Days, Sept. 22 and 23. Rare vestiges of Antonine-era Rome, these mausoleums are dug into the tufa on the Via Flaminia, north of the capital. The Tomb of the Nasoni was discovered in 1674 and has suffered a series of hardships, while the Tomb of Fadilla was discovered in 1923 and preserves its interior decorations almost intact, starting with the floor mosaic and ending with the wall paintings and on the vault.

The cleaning, consolidation and restoration work was carried out under the direction of Marina Piranomonte, of the Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Rome, and has ensured that the elegant decorations are clearly legible again.

Regarding the Tomb of the Nasoni, Piranomonte explains, "In addition to the complex decorative apparatus, since the 1700s the Tomb has enjoyed great popularity: in fact, at first it was thought to be connected to Ovid or at least to his family. Actually it was also the complexity of the frescoes, with many mythological elements, that attracted the attention of the many visitors to this tomb. And to cause its spoliation over the centuries, unfortunately."
Superintendent Francesco Prosperetti said, "This is the premise for a broader project to enhance the archaeological treasures of the Via Flaminia, which in the near future will be carried out by the Special Superintendency of Rome. The dream would be to connect the many sites of the Flaminian Way, from the Villa of Livia to the Mausoleum of Celsa, in a single archaeological route, perhaps taking advantage of the railway."

Prosperetti added, "In Rome there is not only the Colosseum, but an endless heritage that we must protect and enhance. Franceschini ’s reform is well done in many respects, such as the autonomies of the museums and the unification of the superintendencies, but by leaving us only 30 percent of the revenues to be allocated not only to the maintenance of the archaeological area, but also of the architectural and artistic heritage, it makes the management of Rome’s heritage very difficult if not impossible." It should be noted that once inaugurated on the two aforementioned dates, the two mausoleums will be open to visitors only once a month.

Pictured: Tomb of Fadilla, Courtesy Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma

Rome, Saxa Rubra mausoleums reopen on European Heritage Days

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