Narni Underground
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Narni Underground

Located in the historic center of Narni, an ancient town in southern Umbria, the underground complex of Narni Sotterranea reveals its secrets through corridors, cisterns, and passages that preserve traces of a hidden chapter of the city's history.

The itinerary unfolds in three rooms, from different eras, which can be accessed exclusively by booking a guided tour of about an hour and a half, open and suitable for everyone.

Church of Santa Maria della Rupe

The first stop of the tour is the Church of Santa Maria della Rupe, dating back to the 13th century, located beneath the convent complex of San Domenico. It was discovered in 1979 by a group of enthusiastic speleologists. Passing through a gap in the wall, they found themselves inside rooms frescoed by Umbrian artists of the Middle Ages, rich in sacred representations. The rooms have been open to the public since 1994. In addition to the frescoes, thanks to the construction of a glass floor, it is possible to admire the archaeological remains of the structure, walking over the ancient foundations. Virtual reconstructions of the site's historical evolution complete the experience.

Man in historical clothing standing with a book in hand in Giuseppe Andrea Lombardini's cell, with walls covered in graffiti and esoteric symbols. Light enters from a small window, partially illuminating the room.

Cell

Man in historical clothing holding a lantern inside the Room of Torments, illuminated by candles. In the background, torture instruments can be seen.

Room of Torments

Fresco of St. Michael the Archangel with a golden halo on a dark background. The angel wears a garment decorated with geometric patterns.

Fresco of St. Michael the Archangel

Roman Cistern and Formina Aqueduct

From the Church of Santa Maria della Rupe, you reach the second stop: a Roman cistern from the 1st century BC, believed to be part of a domus.

The room houses instruments and artifacts that testify to the hydraulic techniques of the time. It is also possible to take a virtual tour of the Formina aqueduct. This ancient aqueduct, 13 km long and built with the help of the groma, served the ancient Roman Narnia. The aqueduct's path wound through tunnels dug under three mountains, crossed bridges and tunnels, and followed the slopes of the hills.

Room of Torments

Continuing, you come across some tunnels and a large room, known as the “Room of Torments”, where the Inquisition Tribunal, or Holy Office, conducted its interrogations between the 16th and 19th centuries. The room is adjacent to a detention cell, with walls covered in graffiti that testify to the prisoners' sufferings. Studies on the origin of the inscriptions, conducted thanks to documents found in the Vatican archives and at Trinity College Dublin, have identified the author: Giuseppe Andrea Lombardini, a corporal of the guards of the Holy Office of Spoleto, arrested and tried for treason in 1759. He engraved the plaster of the cell to mark the date of his imprisonment and declare his innocence. To evade the Dominicans, who opposed his messages, he then began to create symbolic graffiti, later identified as Masonic. Lombardini is the most famous of the prisoners locked in the secret cell, and his symbols add further mystery to the fascinating underground complex of Narni Sotterranea, a custodian of stories and secrets of the ancient city.

Information:

Guided tours are available by reservation. For more information, visit the Narni Sotterranea website.

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