The Baths of Trajan reopen to the public with a new look. The restoration and enhancement project for the large southwestern exedra and the underground gallery—funded as part of the PNRR – Caput Mundi program—has been completed, returning to the city one of the most historically layered archaeological complexes on Colle Oppio. Free guided tours begin on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, by reservation and in small groups.
The Painted City and the Great Mosaic, finally visible
Among the project’s most significant achievements are the recovery and restoration of two exceptional works housed in the underground gallery. The Painted City is a fresco measuring approximately ten square meters that depicts, from a bird’s-eye view, a city surrounded by walls and towers, dating to the 1st century A.D. and belonging to a building predating the construction of the Baths. The Great Mosaic, on the other hand, is a monumental wall decoration—exposed to a height of about five meters—that depicts a theatrical scaenae frons divided into two registers featuring statues and royal figures.
The restoration has improved the visibility of both works through biocidal treatment, removal of surface deposits, consolidation, and grouting. Excavations conducted as part of the project have also led to new discoveries: an additional mosaic band depicting a port city—likely overlooking the sea, in keeping with the motif of seaside villas—and, deeper down, the remains of a marble-slab cladding and a niche approximately 2.20 meters high. These elements allow us to estimate the original height of the room’s walls at approximately twelve meters.
New pathways, tiered seating, and a mechanized access system
The restoration work was not limited to the decorated surfaces. In the exedra area, new pedestrian paths, scenic viewing areas, and landscaped green spaces have been created, along with a lighting system designed both for the public and to highlight the structures. Inside the gallery, a walkway connecting the two sections has been installed above the chamber housing the Great Mosaic, while a space adjacent to the entrance houses a visitor center and a bookshop.
The project also includes tiered seating for concerts, conferences, and events; a mechanized vertical lift connecting the upper and lower levels; and new educational exhibits for visitors.
How to Book a Tour
The opening will begin on a trial basis to monitor the impact of human presence on the conservation of the works. In September, the gallery and the exedra will be open on Saturdays and Sundays; starting October 2, tours will take place from Friday through Sunday. Six daily tours are scheduled—at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.—with a maximum of 15 participants per time slot. Guided tours are in Italian and free of charge.
Reservations are recommended at 060608 (daily, 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.). The complex is located on Via del Monte Oppio, at the corner of Via delle Terme di Tito. Technical and historical information is available on the website of the Superintendence of Rome.
