“This is it.” The tour guide, a seasoned storyteller named Marco, stopped in front of a construction fence. Behind it, you’d find a glimpse of history, a glimpse of the past. This, before you, is the Necropoli Romana, an ancient Roman necropolis. It’s right here in the middle of bustling Milan, a place long ago where the Romans, a people known for their engineering prowess, their organization, and their love of beauty, laid their dead to rest.
We are standing above a hidden gem, a rich tapestry of Milan’s long-forgotten past. This necropolis dates back to the Roman presence here in the 3rd century BC, a time when Milan was a vibrant Roman town. The remains of this necropolis, just like a time capsule, offer us glimpses into life and death in Roman times.
The Necropoli Romana was unearthed while constructing a new stretch of Milan’s metro system – the M4 line, to be exact. Imagine their astonishment when they uncovered a treasure trove of human remains: over 250 skeletons. Those skeletons, found in both individual graves and mass graves, tell stories of the deceased. They tell stories of disease, including tuberculosis – the first case found in Milan. They even tell stories of a forgotten, mysterious, horse.
And these stories are important, you see. The stories of these people, they help us unlock the past. They help us understand how these people lived and died. They inform and educate us on what made Milan the city it is today. This necropolis is a fascinating place, a time machine that takes us back to ancient times. It highlights how the past is connected to the present.