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The ancient papal palace discovered under Rome

A section of walls unearthed at Piazza San Giovanni in Rome
A section of walls unearthed at Piazza San Giovanni in Rome (Italian Ministry of Culture)
  • Archaeologists in Rome have unearthed an ancient palace believed to have housed Popes between the 9th and 13th centuries.
  • The complex architecture, discovered beneath Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, features walls made of volcanic tuff blocks, some showing signs of restoration.
  • Researchers suggest the structures may have been part of the Patriarchate, the papal residence before the Vatican, which included a grand reception hall.
  • The walls, possibly built for defence against Saracens and feuding families, lost their purpose when the papal seat moved to Avignon, France, in 1305.
  • This discovery, deemed "extraordinarily important", offers valuable insights into Rome's mediaeval history.
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