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Rome Opens Two Metro C Stations Near the Colosseum That Double as Underground Museums

The new stops convert excavation finds into public exhibits that reflect Rome’s push to expand transit alongside preservation.

Overview

  • ColosseoFori Imperiali showcases jugs, bowls, marble remains, a Republican-era townhouse, an imperial thermal bath, and 28 wells predating Rome’s first aqueduct.
  • Porta Metronia was redesigned around 2,000-year-old military barracks and yielded bronze coins and jewelry, with an on-site museum expected as early as next year.
  • Years of archaeological work delayed the builds, with parts excavated by hand in what project leaders describe as the world’s hardest city for subway construction.
  • The driverless C Line now connects eastern suburbs to the city center and is planned to extend toward St. Peter’s, with more museum-style stations in development.
  • Two dozen of the 31 stations are open on the $8.3 billion line, which remains at least a decade from completion, and officials say the museum-stations will attract visitors.