Fano Sotterranea

Fano Sotterranea preserves Roman and medieval structures beneath the former church and convent of Sant'Agostino and nearby civic buildings.

Why it matters

The underground remains reveal how Roman Fano was repeatedly built over and reused. Archaeologists have identified structures spanning the late Republican period through late antiquity, while their function remains debated.

What to notice

The excavated spaces include ancient perimeter walls and a striking arrangement of radial piers and arches. Roman construction is interwoven with medieval insertions, showing successive phases of building beneath the later convent. Interpretations of the main complex include a civil basilica associated with Vitruvius or a temple of Fortuna.

Context and history

The structures beneath Sant'Agostino formed part of Roman Fanum Fortunae. Later houses, churches and convent buildings reused the ancient remains, sealing them below the modern city. Systematic excavation has brought several phases to light, with inscriptions and other evidence documenting building activity from the first century BC into the third and fourth centuries AD. The Archeoclub of Fano has contributed to the study and interpretation of the city's underground archaeology.