A NEW TOURIST DRAW IN THE ROMAN FORUM
In the Roman Forum, in front of the “Curia”, the ancient Roman Senate House, after being covered up by an iron and cement cage for over fifty years, the Lapis Niger is finally shown as a tourist attraction.
This is the mysterious underground area of black marble paving stone marking the spot where ROMULUS, the first King of Rome, is traditionally said to be struck by a lightening and carried to heaven or maybe his burial place, or, as other historians say, this could be the place where Romulus was murdered by a group of senators not agreeing with his imperious politics.
The Lapis Niger was first excavated in 1899, by italian archeologist Giacomo Boni, bringing back to light an archaic sacred shrine made up of an altar flanked by two statue bases suggesting the shape of two lying lions, next to a truncated stele on which the oldest known Latin inscription is carved. The inscription, partially decifred, curses anybody who tramples or defiles the spot: “whoever violates this place will be consecrated to the infernal gods.”
Stepping down to the dark room under the black stone has always been the dream of any archeologist, a thrilling emotion that any lover of the secrets of Rome would wish to experience at least once.
Last November, Professor Angelo Bottini, Superintendent of Archeology in Rome , said recent heavy rain had damaged the covering, and he decided to remove it.
A canopy reproducing the underground area, thanks to a laser-scanner, was erected over the site and surrounded by a transparent fence, so that the archeologists can work on it, while visitors to the Forum watch.
This work is part of a larger plan to improve Rome’s archeological area.
Lorenza Faraone










Through a contribution of 12 euro has been assured, in addition to participation in the concert music, including the ability to receive a free double DVD Speaking of the Bible, Old and New Testaments.









The event will end with a concert on May 2 to the Markets of Trajan, where the pianist Danilo Rea will perform in “Piano Solo”, while at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, the Trio will perform John Amato.







