Parco archeologico di Urbs Salvia
Large archaeological park of about 40 hectares with the Roman city of Urbs Salvia: theatre, amphitheatre, temple of Salus Augusta, cryptoporticus and walls.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Urbs Salvia arose between the late 3rd and the early 2nd century BC as a settlement along the via Salaria Gallica, and became a colony during the 2nd century BC. It was monumentalised especially in the Augustan period, when public buildings such as the theatre and the temple-cryptoporticus dedicated to Salus Augusta were built, and it reached its greatest splendour under the Flavians.
From the 4th century the city went into crisis because of earthquakes and economic difficulties, and the invasion of the Visigoths under Alaric accelerated the abandonment of the lowland settlement: the population moved to the hill of San Biagio, where the present Urbisaglia stands. It was precisely the abandonment that favoured the good state of preservation of the remains.
The park occupies about 40 hectares at the foot of the town and preserves walls about 2,500 metres long, the theatre, one of the largest in Italy, the niched building (edificio a nicchioni), the temple-cryptoporticus with paintings of the Third Style, two funerary towers and the amphitheatre, built around 81 AD. Since 1995 the University of Macerata has carried out excavations in the area every year; since October 2021 the park has come under the Direzione regionale Musei nazionali delle Marche. The visit route, about one kilometre long, descends on paths.
Highlights
- Roman theatre with rare remains of painted plaster
- 1st-century AD amphitheatre
- Temple-cryptoporticus of Salus Augusta with Third Style paintings
- Urban walls about 2,500 metres long with the Porta Gemina
- Niched building and funerary towers
- Operated by
- Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Marche
- Director
- Sofia Cingolani
- Visitors per year
- approx. 4,900 (2022)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2citizens of the European Union aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for EU citizens under 18. |
Other conditions of free admission follow the national regulations (Ministry of Culture page on concessions).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Bookings, guided tours and out-of-hours openings through the Urbisaglia Tourist Office (+39 0733 50124). The park extends over about 40 hectares; the route of about one kilometre descends on paths. |
