Carcer Tullianum Museum

The Carcer Tullianum is one of the most important and fascinating monuments of the Republican Roman period. It holds a great historical and archaeological treasure for over 3,000 years.

It is located below the Church of St. Joseph of the Carpenters - XVI century - overlooking the Roman Forum, one of the most impressive views of the city.

The complex consists of two distinct parts: the Carcer, the upper area, of the period of Anco Marzio (640-616 BC) and the Tullianum, the lower area, of the time of Servius Tullius (578-534 BC). The first signs of the place date back to the IX century BC.

In the Tullianum waters were left to die the enemies of the Roman people, including some major historical figures, like Vercingetorix, the prince and leader of Gaul.

About the Tullianum, an ancient tradition tells of the miraculous action of St. Peter, which with a stick struck the rock and made water gush, and used it to baptize inmates and jailers; during the centuries this place was, therefore, also much visited as a pilgrimage place of great devotion from those who arrived in Rome.

The visit to this exceptional archaeological site is enriched with a multimedia tour that also includes the use of tablet; you can see the reconstruction of the original environment and read insights on what was found during the recent excavations.

Photographs by Riccardo Auci