NYMPHAEUM OF THE ANNIBALDIS – UNDERGROUND ROME TOUR

You can enter the “nymphaeum” by going through a small door in the wall of “Via degli Annibaldi”, which is right behind the beautiful “Colosseum”. This underground site was discovered in 1895 during some construction work on the street. It was built during the reign of “Emperor Augustus”, who reigned between the first century BC and the first century AD. “Emperor Augustus” was the first roman emperor, as he came to power right after the fall of the “Roman Republic”. He marked the beginning of a period of peace called “the Pax Romana”, a golden age of the Roman Empire that lasted two hundred years.

The “nymphaeums” were places dedicated to the “nymphs”, mythological creatures that looked like beautiful young women and lived near streams, rivers, lakes, and the sea. In a “nymphaeum” one could always find a basin filled with water. In ancient Rome people came here to rest, eat, and relax. These monuments could either be artificial buildings or natural grottoes and were found in the territory of the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece.

With the Nymphaeum of Annibaldis underground Rome tour you will be able to see all the beauty that this underground “nymphaeum” has to offer. On the main curved wall there is a beautiful and unique “mosaic made of seashells”, that is the main attraction of this underground site. The rest of the “Nymphaeum of Annibaldis” is decorated with mother-of-pearl and pumice stone. In the “nymphaeum” there is also, of course, a beautifully decorated basin where water could be collected. The richness of the decorations on the walls and the basin tells us that the “Nymphaeum of Annibaldis” likely belonged to a noble family of Ancient Rome.

In 1986 the city of Rome decided to restore this beautiful monument, and the decorations of the “Nymphaeum of Annibaldis” were restored to their former glory.

In the “Nymphaeum of Annibaldis” you will not find precious marbles like you would in a “Domus”, but the simple seashells, enamel, and mother-of-pearl are masterfully used to create unique decorations. During the Nymphaeum of Annibaldis underground Rome tour you will feel the unique atmosphere of this place and walk into a place dedicated to ancient mythological creatures that have fascinated people for millennia: the “nymphs”.

After this visit, you can also go see the nearby “Colosseum”, definitely the most famous monument in Rome, where people and Emperors came to see gladiatorial fights and animals from all over the ancient Roman Empire. Go to the private tours section on our website and let us take you on an adventure that will take you back in time!