Subterranean Rome

by Ivana Della Portella, Mark E. Smith (Photographer), Caroline Higgitt (Translator)

Book by Ivana Della Portella

Genres: Italy, Reference, Nonfiction

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Theut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old but gold
Bellissime foto e buoni testi relativi a luoghi più o meno accessibili (tra tutti penso alla VII Coorte dei vigili) e più o meno conosciuti. Una bella rassegna di alcuni dei tesori custoditi sotto la Roma di superficie.

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by what lies under the cities .....the hidden history and this is certainly the case in Rome which is build on the successive ruins of earlier structures. This book investigates the buildings that lie beneath the surface: tombs, chapels, Mithraic rites caves, temples, churches etc. What amazed me was the powerful vaults that hold up the roofs. I guess, only the powerful vaults are still standing and holding up the structures above. Weaker vaults would have collapsed and there would be nothing to show underground except broken rubble.
But the book is a bit repetitive; a little boring, doesn't really grab the imagination and although the photographs are fine it's nt a book I especially want to keep or would refer back to. The section on the Mithraic rites was interesting. And there were a few other interesting insights but overall I only rate it two stars.

[Henry Kline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nicely written look at monuments of Rome for religion, death and infrastructure. The pictures are great.

[Csenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I read the pocket-book edition of this)
This is a very readable and enjoyable introduction to some of the less well-known, but most fascinating historical sites in the city of Rome. It deals especially with structures that were preserved underground (hence the title), and collects them into categories such as sacred sites, water-related buildings, living blocks, etc. It comes with a map and a glossary.
The book walks the line between scientific accuracy and entertainment very neatly, in my opinion. It is readable, yet supplies a lot of factual information about the sites; the short chapters are also peppered with evocative descriptions of what they might have looked like, and quotes from various Roman sources that add to the general mood. It lacks footnotes (although it lists sources at the end), and sometimes some of the more specialized archaeological terms go unexplained, but it works great as an introduction to a hidden aspect of the city of Rome. I enjoyed reading it while I was in the city, and it led me to some sites that i would have never visited otherwise. Highly recommended for travelers!

[Lee Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat coffee table book. Also a good read!