The Coccanari Fornari palace, in which the Municipal Library is housed, includes inside it a section of an ancient cryptoporticus, dating back to the second half of the first century B.C., that underpassed today’s Scalinata alley, under some of the buildings in Selci Square (which recalls in its name the paving of the Roman road still visible at the foot of the Romanesque bell tower of S. Nicola in Selci).
Inside, the building, in opus reticolatum of local limestone, is divided into two parallel aisles on a single straight arm, separated by a sturdy plug wall
and covered by barrel vaults with a lowered arch.
Interior lighting was provided by large splayed windows, which opened in the western sides of the vaults.
It was most likely built to expand ancient buildings located in the upper part, the remains of which can still be seen below the medieval and modern masonry.
Recent archaeological investigations have, moreover, revealed that the construction of the cryptoporticus is set on pre-existing buildings, of which the beautiful floor of II-I B.C. remains, visible in the west corner for about 6 sq. m., in cocciopesto, with a central square fielded by a rhomboidal grid of lozenges designed by white mosaic tiles.
The archaeological site has been made viable by an intervention sponsored by the Tivoli City Council and will soon be open to visitors and patrons of the adjacent library.
Ready to go? Here you can find everything you need.
Easily find all the tourist sites to visit in Tivoli
