Orte Underground Tour

On this tour of the Orte Underground, participants will explore the subterranean galleries of the village, including an Etruscan-Roman aqueduct, as well as cisterns, wells and cellars.

Tour Details

The meeting point is at number 45 of Via Matteotti. From there, we will start our journey to the Orte Underground. Many secrets await us below the surface of this charming town in Lazio!

The adventure begins at the Ipogea Fountain, situated just beneath the central Piazza della Libertà. Originally designed as a cistern during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, it was later enhanced during the Renaissance.

Our route will then lead us to the galleries of the Etruscan-Roman aqueduct. The primary tunnel of this construct, established around the 6th-5th centuries BC, was engineered to channel rainwater to the city, utilizing the natural gradient of the tuff cliff. It stands as a remarkable feat of ancient engineering!

In addition to the aqueduct, the tour includes visits to a series of cisterns, wells, and cellars that span Roman, Medieval, and modern history. Following this exploration, we will resurface and stroll through the old town of Orte, making our way to the pigeon lofts. These two underground chambers, constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries, served as breeding grounds for pigeons, vital for communication in the Middle Ages.

The tour culminates at the old Orte Hospital, where we will visit its unique snow well, which was historically used to gather ice for preserving medical supplies.

Partial Closures

Please be aware that currently, the visit to the Etruscan-Roman aqueduct is not available, resulting in a total tour duration of 1 hour.

Important Info

This activity is not advisable for individuals with claustrophobia.