In a Routine Excavation, Archaeologists Accidentally Uncovered a Secret Pope’s Palace
The remains of an ancient structure that may have once housed the papacy were discovered in Rome during renovations for Jubilee.
Archaeologists uncovered walls that date back to between the 9th and 13th century, be part of the Patriarchate.
The discovery stems from construction and renovation for the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee.
Archaeologists in Rome unearthed the remains of an ancient palace that could have housed popes prior to the establishment of the Vatican.
In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee, various areas in Rome have been undergoing renovations, including the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano. Work on the piazza revealed a complex architectural structure just beneath the surface that may have played a big role in papal history.
Walls found along the eastern side of the dig site date back to between the 9th and 13th centuries, and archaeologists theorize that they may belong to the Patriarchate, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
The Patriarchate, the residence of ecclesiastical leaders, originally consisted of a grand reception hall called the monumental basilica. During the Middle Ages, the structure was expanded to house the office of the Pope, otherwise known as the papacy. The ministry estimated that the papacy remained in the Patriarchate until 1305 when the papal capital was temporarily moved to Avignon, France.
In a press release, the ministry described the wall as consisting of parts that were “reused from other structures that no longer exist” and said there was evidence of several restoration interventions. It was constructed during a time of turmoil amongst aristocratic families in Rome, so there’s some credence to the idea that the wall acted as a form of defense around the basilica, added the ministry.
The ministry said in the release that the discovery in Piazza San Giovanni is “of extraordinary importance” to Rome’s history, as there haven’t been any mass excavations of the square in modern times. Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sanguiliano said the ruins are “yet another demonstration of the richness of the territory of Rome, an inexhaustible mine of archaeological treasures.”
Jubilee, the Catholic Holy Year, starts in December and grants Catholics special indulgences. The year-long celebration can attract more than 30 million pilgrims, CNN reported. Renovations—like those on the Piazza San Giovanni—are required to prepare for the influx of travelers and pedestrianize the city. And this isn’t the first time that a Jubilee construction project has led to unearthing ruins.
In early July, work on the Piazza Pia, a square that’s dedicated to Pope Pius IX, led to archaeologists discovering an “interesting garden arrangement,” according to the ministry. An inscription on a lead pipe found during excavation dated the structure between 37 and 41 AD and led archaeologists to believe that the garden once belonged to Caligula, a former emperor of Rome. According to archaeologist Alessio De Cristofaro, Caligulus likely inherited the luxury residence after his parents, Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, died.
The ministry stated that all findings will remain in their original location and that plans for further studies are being discussed.
Although accidental, these discoveries are crucial to our understanding of history. “Every single stone speaks to us and tells its story: thanks to these important discoveries, archaeologists will be able to learn more about our past,” Sangiuliano said.
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