A visit to the Archaeological Park of Carsulae means you can treat yourself to a day of that includes culture while at the same time enjoying the beauty of nature.
Ancient Carsulae sits on a lovely plateau surrounded by fertile plains. This, together with the nearby mineral water springs just outside of San Gemini, ensured its fame since the days of antiquity, together with the development of a flourishing economy.
If you are coming from the south of Umbria or headed down from the north-east, you'll reach the area along the Via Flaminia, which already connected these two areas in the Roman Era and was the main road between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. nbsp nbsp
A very well-preserved portion of the ancient road can be seen here, the cardo maximus (main street) along which the era's most important public buildings were constructed, from the forum to the theatre, orderly and monumental, they were vital to trade and commerce. As you walk along this stretch of road, you can imagine the hustle and bustle, the market stalls, the shops in the tabernae under the arches, men in togas dispensing justice in the forum.
Walk within these walls and look at each space with the curiosity of an explorer seeking hidden details. You'll see the traces of the old amphitheatre, much larger than you'd expect for a city this size. It was built to hold spectators from all of the surrounding areas and travellers from afar, and each show was a fascinating occasion for the inhabitants of the entire region to have some fun and relax. And imagine the impact the so-called Twin Temples had on passersby. Located at a key spot along the Via Flaminia, they were an object of curiosity and reverence, a place to stop and rest. Just a bit further up is the Church of Saints Cosma and Damiano, built in the 11th century, long after the Roman city had been abandoned, much of it with materials taken from the old city. From here you can see the lovely Arch of San Damiano, which marks the northern border of the old city and the end of this particular journey. Go through the Arch and you'll realise that you have just lived a moment of life in ancient times. nbsp
