History fans will want to put this new Roman museum on their itinerary

Beside the mighty Colosseum, a new archaeological park and museum have recently unveiled their treasures to eager visitors in Rome.

You've ticked the Colosseum from your list and gazed in wonder at the historic ruins of the Roman Forum. Wondering what's next to explore?

Step into the Archaeological Park of the Celio and the Museum of the Forma Urbis. This immersive experience allows you to go back in time and study the streetscapes, architecture and ruins of Ancient Rome.

Museum of the Forma Urbis

At the heart of this experience lies the chance to walk over an original marble map of the Eternal City. The colossal marble plan, known as the Forma Urbis Romae, harks back to the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, with engravings etched between 203 CE and 211 CE Originally displayed vertically in the Temple of Peace in the Roman Forum, this monumental map, measuring approximately 18m by 13m (59ft by 43ft), remained hidden until its rediscovery in 1562.

Today, it is meticulously preserved under glass, presented horizontally to offer visitors the sensation of strolling through the ancient streets of Rome. Giovanni Battista Nolli's 1748 Pianta Grande map of Rome is superimposed on it, bringing the map's points of interest to life.

Transparent floors invite you to walk atop the detailed ancient cobblestones, encountering iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Ludus Magnus, and the Sacred Area of Largo Argentina. Despite only about a tenth of the map remaining intact, this marks the first public display of these fragments in nearly a century, according to the Associated Press.

The map spans 150 marble slabs, intricately depicting temples, baths, basilicas, and neighborhoods of ancient Rome. It was more symbolic than practical when created, serving as a tribute to the city's architectural magnificence – something to show off to the rest of the empire – rather than merely functioning as a conventional navigational tool.

Archaeological Park of the Celio

Simultaneously, the newly-opened Archaeological Park of the Celio houses numerous architectural relics carefully curated from 19th-century excavations. Among these remnants are the foundational remains of the Divo Claudio, also known as the Temple of Claudius, dating back to the 1st century CE. The park features various burial grounds, public monuments and sacred areas.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica notes the stone remains have been arranged thematically so that the park feels like an open-air museum. Among the ruins is a grand tomb from the 2nd century BCE, belonging to Servius Sulpicius Galba, a member of one of Rome's most powerful families. In contrast, there's a more modest story told by the gravestone of Pamphilia, who was an ornatrix or hairstylist.

Within the park's grounds, you'll also discover the Casina del Salvi, which Wanted in Rome reports is poised to reprise its original role as a coffee house for visitors.

Plan your visit

This initiative is part of a larger project aimed at enhancing Rome's historic hills. The new park and museum are integral parts of the city's New Archaeological Walk, seamlessly connecting ancient Roman sites around the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Terme di Caracalla, and Circo Massimo.

The archaeological park welcomes visitors free of charge every day. The museum opens daily, with the exception of Mondays, with tickets priced at €9 ($10).