Tomb of Caecilia Metella, Ancient Roman mausoleum on Via Appia in Rome, Italy.
The Tomb of Caecilia Metella is a cylindrical structure built on a square base of travertine and tufa blocks. It features decorated marble panels with carved scenes, and the overall construction shows the quality of Roman building techniques from about 2000 years ago.
The tomb was built during the early imperial period and held the remains of a wealthy family. Later it was repurposed for different uses before eventually being recognized again as an archaeological monument.
The monument honors a wealthy Roman woman from an influential family of the time. The marble decorations show scenes from daily life and military events, giving visitors a window into what people valued in that era.
The site sits along an ancient road that is easy to reach today. Wear comfortable shoes since the ground is uneven and there is little shade from the sun.
During the Middle Ages, the structure was converted into a fortress and used as a checkpoint for road traffic. This second life as a fortification is still visible today in the building changes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
