Falerii Novi, Ancient Roman archaeological site in Fabrica di Roma, Italy.
Falerii Novi is an ancient Roman town in the municipality of Fabrica di Roma, north of Rome in the Lazio region, enclosed by a perimeter wall with towers that still stands in large sections. Within the walls, the remains of a theater, an amphitheater, baths, a forum, and residential blocks are spread across a flat plain edged by volcanic hills.
The town was founded after Rome defeated the Falisci people in 241 BC and moved them from their hilltop stronghold to this more easily controlled flat site. It was gradually abandoned during the early medieval period, which left the ground plan largely intact beneath the soil.
The layout of Falerii Novi shows how a Roman town was organized around shared spaces, with the forum, theater, and baths placed at the center of daily life. Walking along the old street grid, visitors can still read the logic of the town in the ground beneath their feet.
The site is reached by a dirt road that branches off the road between Civita Castellana and Fabrica di Roma, so a car is the most practical way to get there. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the ground is uneven and some sections are active excavation zones.
Much of the town was mapped using ground-penetrating radar without any digging, revealing a detailed picture of streets and buildings that remain buried. These scans uncovered a temple and a large building with a long facade that had never been previously documented.
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