Tunnels of Claudius, Hydraulic archaeological site in Capistrello, Italy
The Tunnels of Claudius are an underground water system near Avezzano made up of several parallel passages and vertical shafts running through solid rock. The installation was designed to move water from a lake to a river, and many sections remain accessible to visitors today.
The system was commissioned by Emperor Claudius in the 1st century to solve a major water problem in the region. The project was so technically demanding that similar underground water passages were not built again for centuries afterward.
The tunnels reveal how Romans solved one of their biggest engineering challenges using only basic tools and human effort. Walking through them, you notice the marks left by ancient workers who carved these passages without any machinery.
When visiting, wear sturdy shoes and bring warm clothing, as the underground sections stay cool and the ground can be slippery. Check ahead for tour availability and dress in clothes you do not mind getting dusty.
Workers dug through the rock without ever seeing the surface, yet managed to connect their shafts with impressive accuracy from above and below. Archaeologists later found tools and markings showing that thousands of men labored together on this underground network over many years.
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