The towns of Albano Laziale and Pomezia, just a short 30 minute car ride away from one another, have a rich archeological history that binds them together, starting with the myth of their founding, attributed to the Trojan hero Aeneas. According to the legend of Albalonga, Albano Laziale was founded by Ascanius in the place indicated by a sow which appeared to his father Aeneas in a dream: a metaphor to highlight the maternal role that the city – from which Albano takes its name – had for Latin people. Pomezia, known in ancient times as Lavinium, is indeed the city founded by none other than the Virgilian hero, who landed on these shores after the fall of Troy.

Our curious traveler, passionate about archeology, will find, in these two towns, the itinerary that’s most suited to them.

Our traveler’s itinerary will start in the heart of Albano Laziale, where they will be able to observe how the topographic layout of the city is largely tied to the structure of the castrum, a fortified rectangular encampment surrounded by a strong wall built in opus quadratum (squared work). It was commissioned by Settimio Severo between the end of the II and the start of the III century a.C. to house the Second Partica Legion, just a few miles shy of Rome, and to ensure its safety. The 6000 legionnaires housed in the castrum and their respective families, stationed just outside the walls, ended up creating, along with artisans and merchants, a solid urban center. As of today, visitors can still observe the outer walls and the ruins of the impressive Porta Pretoria (on Via Corso G. Matteotti), main access to the Castra Albana made up of three arches, overlooking the ancient Via Appia (now Via del Rinascimento). Along the Via Appia was the monumental Tomb of the “Orazi and Curiazi”, a funeral building from the late Republican age distinguished by a peculiar volumetric articulation, perhaps inspired by Arunte’s tomb. The traditional name, all but verified, is inspired by the famous duel between two of the most prominent families Romans and Albans, which actually took place along the fifth mile of the Via Appia.

The Castrum also incorporated several ancient buildings like the Cisternoni, an impressive water reserve with a trapezoidal base, divided in five aisles covered by a barrel vault and thirty–six pillars which, fueled by water mains and springs, ensured a steady water supply to the surrounding area. Another building that dates back to the same time as the Castrum is the Amphitheater Severiano: located beyond the north-eastern side of the Castrum it had an original height of 22 mt and an oval shape. The arena is still easy to see, with its Northern side carved into the surfaced tuff, the triumphant entrances, the ground floor and the first floor on the Southern side, supported by arches which in turn held up the steps and part of the triumphant entrances. The legionnaires could also enjoy the massive thermal establishment, whose ruins were turned, in medieval times, in the Cellomaio district. Below the thermal baths is the Museum of the Second Partica Legion, entirely dedicated to this military force, with life-sized figures of the soldiers of the Legion and archeological finds retrieved at the Castrum site itself. Our trip to Albano Laziale ends, almost like a tangible chronicle, at the Civic Museum of Villa Ferrajoli, situated in a neoclassical villa from the first half of the 1800’s it hosts a permanent exhibition organized on three different floors with more than two thousand archeological finds that tell the tale of Albano from the Lower Paleolithic to the Renaissance.

Our traveler’s itinerary through the mythical Virgilian cities of Lazio leaves again for Pomezia, to visit the Lavinium Archeological Museum in Via Pratica di Mare, where they will have a chance to see numerous votive materials from the Sanctuary of the XIII Altars that reconnect with the mythical trojan hero. The ancient Lavinium is represented not only by male heroes but by female deities too, as evidenced by the statue of the goddess Minerva Tritonia who welcomes visitors in the museum and to whom a very important sanctuary and several terracotta sculptures dating back to the V and III century b.C. were dedicated. The life sized, polychrome terracotta sculptures displayed in the first room, originated between the V and III century b.C. which stand out for their beauty, quality of execution and attention to detail, all belong to the votive storage tied to the cult of Minerva, guardian goddess of marriages and births. As do the votive heads displayed in the Mundus Muliebris room: jewels and hairdos were faithfully reproduced as a testament to the luxury and prestige of the richest and most noble classes that visited the goddess’ shrine. The museum’s itinerary continues with a room dedicated to Aeneas: the ancient city was called civitas religiosa for the presence of its numerous and important sanctuaries. The most important of all can be found in the sacred area of the Thirteen Altarsi, located right outside the city, going south.