Cisterne romane di Todi

Two twin Roman cisterns beneath Piazza del Popolo, in the ancient forum of Tuder, visitable as part of the “Todi sotterranea” itinerary.

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About the museum

The Roman cisterns of Todi lie beneath Piazza del Popolo, the area of the forum of ancient Tuder, and are the city's main monument of Roman hydraulic engineering. They are two twin cisterns with a rectangular plan, about 50 × 8 m, internally divided into twelve interconnected rooms; they supplied water to the hill and supported the paving of the forum. Their construction relates to the phase of urbanisation between the 2nd and 1st century BC; a first restoration dates to the early 2nd century AD.

The eastern cistern, which remained in use as a public water reserve until the 19th century, can be explored only with caving techniques through the manholes in the square. The western cistern was instead incorporated into medieval houses: one of its rooms became the cellar of Palazzo Matalucci and was fitted with a convenient staircase, and since 2003 it has been open to the public as part of the city's museum circuit.

The visit is part of the “Todi sotterranea” itinerary, which also includes the galleries of the Fabbrica della Piana and the Neviera della Valle and reveals the network of wells, galleries and cisterns dug beneath the city.

Highlights

Two twin Roman cisterns beneath Piazza del Popolo
Twelve interconnected rooms per cistern
Cellar of Palazzo Matalucci with access staircase
“Todi sotterranea” itinerary