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Federica, a local tour guide and owner of the Instagram account @livevirtualguide, recently posted a video showcasing the route to a little-known Roman site. Everyone assumed it was some strange, exotic location, but it turned out to be the area beneath the Trevi Fountain.
The famous Trive fountain in Rome, Italy. - Photo: Unsplash/Michele Bitetto
Vicus Caprarius, also known as the City of Water, is an ancient Roman underground apartment complex located beneath the Trevi Fountain and the fountain of the same name in Rome. This archaeological site dates back to the first century, but was not discovered until the late 1990s.
Today, visitors can reach this underground site by venturing into the Rinascente shopping district – located right next to the fountain – to see firsthand the houses of the ancient Roman elite. Entrance to the archaeological site costs only 4 Euros (approximately 100,000 VND). Inside, the space also displays specimens of hundreds of artifacts found during excavations, including terracotta figurines, African pottery, mosaic tiles, and over 800 coins.
What might make this mysterious place even more special? Perhaps it's the system of waterways running through it. At Vicus Caprarius, visitors will see pools filled with water thanks to the Aqua Virgo – one of the eleven ancient Roman aqueducts. This aqueduct also leads to the Trevi Fountain, meaning the water at Vicus Caprarius eventually flows to the fountain above – where, according to local legend, visitors toss coins in to make a wish.
