Antiquarium

Hidden beneath the bustling city of Trieste, the Antiquarium in via Donota whispers tales of ancient lives. The Antiquarium isn’t just a collection of artifacts. It’s a portal to Roman Tergeste, a vibrant city that thrived centuries ago. The Antiquarium sits on the lower slopes of San Giusto Hill. It reveals the remnants of a Roman domus, a home, and a necropolis, a city of the dead. Imagine walking through the rooms of a home built in the late 1st century BC. This domus, adapted to the hill’s slope, existed during a period of significant urban development on San Giusto Hill. Terraces were constructed, and the hillside facing the sea was transformed. Within the Antiquarium, you can see traces of daily life. A well and a latrine offer glimpses into the habits of ancient Tergestini. Discarded items, now archaeological treasures, tell stories of everyday routines. By the end of the 1st century AD, the domus was abandoned. In the 2nd century, a portion of it was repurposed as a pagan necropolis. The Antiquarium reveals two distinct phases of burial practices. From the 2nd to the 4th century, a wealthy local family used the lower level of the domus as a private necropolis. Later, from the 4th century onwards, it became a communal burial ground. Infant burials in amphorae are particularly poignant. Archaeologists suggest a high infant mortality rate during the 4th-6th centuries, likely due to malnutrition. The Antiquarium in via Donota offers a unique opportunity to connect with Trieste’s Roman past. It is a place where the whispers of ancient lives echo through the centuries.