Museo della Via Flaminia

The Museum of the Via Flaminia in Fano uses digital interpretation to explore the Roman road and the ancient city. It occupies the former church of San Michele beside the Arch of Augustus.

Why it matters

Rather than centring on a collection of excavated objects, the museum brings dispersed archaeological evidence into a shared account of roads, buildings and urban life. Fano's position on the Via Flaminia is central to that account.

What to notice

The installation was conceived with mapped floor graphics, large visual reconstructions and interactive content. Its subjects include the Augustan walls and gates, the theatre and amphitheatre, the Augusteum and domestic buildings. The church's Renaissance facade also preserves a relief recording the Roman gate's earlier appearance.

Context and history

The San Michele complex was begun in 1494 beside the Roman entrance. Its building history is linked to damage inflicted on the arch during the siege of 1463. The museum opened in 2016 as part of the Flaminia Nextone project. A subsequent update in 2021 developed its digital interpretation and the associated WebMuseum.