Buildings along the harbour

The study of the Roman buildings of Centumcellae is most confusing. In the papal period they were used as foundation or partly re-used. Papal masonry sometimes imitated Roman masonry.

Click on the image to enlarge.
Map of Civitavecchia with Roman locations.
Image: Granino-Ricci 2014, pp. 126-127.

On the square to the north of the inner harbour the remains have been found of a very large building with three aisles. It has been interpreted as a basilica from the period of Trajan, a military arsenal, but also as a Christian basilica. Unfortunately, no details are known about the masonry of the walls.

Roman pavement of basalt blocks next to the inner harbour.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 18.

Roman staircase leading to the inner harbour.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 19.

A bit to the east of the inner harbour a series of rooms has been identified as a warehouse, horrea. It consists of opus mixtum. The vaulted rooms are back-to-back and were preceded by a porticus with red and black granite columns, with marble Doric capitals. However, the reticulate work of the facade is from the 16th century and an imitation of Roman masonry.

Remains of the horrea.
Photos: Toti 2013, photo 26 and photo 27.

In the same area a building was found that may also have been drawn by Leonardo da Vinci. On the drawing it has two upper stories and a flight of stairs descending into the sea.

Remains of a Roman building on the quay.
Photos: Toti 2013, photo 36 and photo 37.

The building drawn by Leonardo da Vinci.
Sala del Tesoro, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan: Codex Atlanticus leave n.63.
Image: civitavecchia.portmobility.it.

Roman remains, including mosaics, were found inside the Forte Michelangelo.

Roman mosaic floor inside the Forte Michelangelo.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 62.

Part of a Roman road, 6 meters wide and presumably the Via Aurelia running along the harbour, was also found, at a depth of 3 meters.

Excavation of a Roman road.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 49.

Remains of baths were excavated not far from the quay, behind the horrea.

Plan of the baths near the harbour. North is to the left.
Image: Ministero dell'Ambiente 2019, fig. 8.

Aerial photo of the excavation of the baths, taken in the 1950's.
The harbour is to the right. Photo: Toti 2013, photo 2.

Opus mixtum of the baths.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 12.

Opus latericium of the baths.
Photo: Toti 2013, photo 13.

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