Underground Archaeological Site of Sas: Roman Tridentum Beneath Piazza Cesare Battisti

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.cultura.trentino.it

Country: Italy

Civilization: Roman

Remains: Museum

History

The Underground Archaeological Site of Sas is located beneath Piazza Cesare Battisti in the city of Trento in northern Italy. This site preserves remains from the Roman city of Tridentum, which occupied this area during antiquity.

The Roman period marks the primary phase of the site’s development. Tridentum was established as a Roman settlement. Following the Roman era, the area underwent significant transformation. The site today reflects this layering of history, with Roman structures lying beneath the modern city center.

Remains

The archaeological site includes a section of the eastern city wall of Roman Tridentum, constructed to protect the settlement. Alongside the wall stands a tower. A paved street segment runs through the site, laid with local red stone slabs.

The site also contains parts of a Roman sewer system, with visible conduits that once managed wastewater. This infrastructure demonstrates the advanced urban planning of the city, ensuring sanitation and drainage.

Decorative features include mosaics depicting oceanic deities, which adorned public or communal spaces. A public fountain column is present, decorated with a sculpted tragic mask dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD.

Epigraphic material has been found at the site, including an inscription related to Marcus Apuleius. These inscriptions provide personal and civic information from the Roman period.

Overall, the remains preserved underground beneath Piazza Cesare Battisti, allow the structural and decorative elements to be viewed in their original context. The site retains both architectural and artistic features that illustrate the urban life of Roman Tridentum.