In central Rome, renovation work for the Catholic jubilee year of 2025 has uncovered the remains of what appears to be a medieval palace where popes lived before they made the Vatican their residence, the Italian Ministry of Culture announced.
Archaeologists have unearthed a complex architectural structure in the square in front of the Lateran Basilica in the city centre, including walls believed to have protected the patriarchate and a monumental basilica designed by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century.
“This is an extremely important find for the city of Rome and its medieval history, as the square has never been the subject of extensive archaeological excavations in modern times,” the ministry said in a statement.
Found during renovation work
The original structure of the building dates back to the time of Emperor Constantine in 313 and was gradually expanded between the 9th and 13th centuries. It housed the papacy until 1305, when it was temporarily moved to Avignon, France. The area around the Lateran Basilica is being renovated ahead of the Catholic Jubilee that begins in December.
30 million pilgrims are expected in Rome for the major church event. During a jubilee, Catholics can traditionally receive forgiveness for their sins if they meet certain conditions and do good works or undertake pilgrimages.
Other excavations near the Vatican in recent weeks to widen a road tunnel in the run-up to the anniversary have revealed traces of an ancient Roman ‘Fullonica’, a laundry and colonnaded garden believed to have been used by Emperor Caligula.
Source: Krone
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