Italy opens the Grottino del Campidoglio in Rome with 3,000 m² of tunnels sealed by Mussolini in 1929 and over $2.8 million in restoration after almost a century closed.

Written by Douglas Avila

Published on 12/05/2026 at 12:02

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Tunnels spanning 3,000 square meters extend beneath the Roman Forum and the Theatre of Marcellus. The depth reaches almost 300 meters, and the official opening to the public is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027.

The Grottino del Campidoglio, an underground network beneath the Roman Capitol, will reopen to the public after being closed for almost a century. The announcement was released by the Rome city hall and gained international repercussion via CNN.

According to the official project, the tunnels cover about 3,000 square meters. The maximum depth reaches approximately 300 meters below the surface.

According to the archaeological team, the complex lies beneath the Roman Forum and the Theatre of Marcellus. In parallel, part of the circuit crosses pre-Roman foundations.

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Sealed by Mussolini in 1929: the history of the Grottino del Campidoglio

According to The Sun, the underground network was sealed by order of dictator Benito Mussolini in 1929.

Tunnels of the Grottino del Campidoglio beneath the Capitol in Rome — Underground tunnels of the Grottino del Campidoglio. Editorial image.

Indeed, Italian fascism closed several Roman structures to reorganize the urban landscape of the historic center.

In parallel, part of the galleries functioned as water cisterns and warehouses since Antiquity. Consequently, the space served commercial functions until the early 20th century.

According to historical records, the Grottino del Campidoglio went through several phases. First it was a stone quarry; then it became a cistern; subsequently, a commercial warehouse; and, in the 19th century, low-cost popular housing.

According to historians, Mussolini wanted to create a “Fascist Rome” that highlighted classical monuments without underground distractions. In turn, merchants and residents were expelled to other regions.

In parallel, the regime used cinema and propaganda to amplify the operation. According to records, more than 5,000 families were relocated to the center between 1929 and 1935.

Indeed, this process is today a central theme of Italian cultural memory. Consequently, the museum will also have a module dedicated to the history of fascism in the historic center.

US$ 2.8 million for restoration and opening in 2026-2027

According to the

Italy opens the Grottino del Campidoglio in Rome with 3,000 m² of tunnels sealed by Mussolini in 1929 and over $2.8 million in restoration after almost a century closed.

Tunnels spanning 3,000 square meters extend beneath the Roman Forum and the Theatre of Marcellus. The depth reaches almost 300 meters, and the official opening to the public is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027.

Sealed by Mussolini in 1929: the history of the Grottino del Campidoglio

US$ 2.8 million for restoration and opening in 2026-2027

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Italy opens the Grottino del Campidoglio in Rome with 3,000 m² of tunnels sealed by Mussolini in 1929 and over $2.8 million in restoration after almost a century closed.

Tunnels spanning 3,000 square meters extend beneath the Roman Forum and the Theatre of Marcellus. The depth reaches almost 300 meters, and the official opening to the public is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027.

Sealed by Mussolini in 1929: the history of the Grottino del Campidoglio

US$ 2.8 million for restoration and opening in 2026-2027

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

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While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

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