Teramo: Archaeology and City History

Teramo brings together different layers of history, from ancient burial grounds and Roman houses to the history of the cathedral and works of sacred art. If you are looking for a hotel in Teramo, you can plan your stay around these cultural interests. The historical themes range from burial rites of the pre-Roman centuries to buildings and works of art from the 15th century.

Archaeology: Burial Ground, Theatre and Domus

The Sito Archeologico del Teatro romano was probably built in the early imperial period under Augustus. Parts of the site were rediscovered and restored from 1926 onward. The site is currently closed for enhancement and restoration work; check its status before your trip.

The Area Archeologica di Madonna della Cona includes an extensive burial ground that was used from the 9th century BC to the 3rd century AD. Finds there include circular stone tomb monuments of the Campovalano type, with rich grave goods. These monuments are dated to the period from the 9th to the 6th century BC. The Area is open on request; contact is required for information and reservations.

The Domus del Leone is located in the basement of Palazzo Savini and dates to the 1st century BC. Visible remains include an atrium used as a reception area and a tablinum, the representative room of a Roman house. The mosaic depicts a lion attacking a snake. The Domus thus highlights both the layout of a Roman house and a specific visual motif.

At the Sito Archeologico di Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Republican-era buildings were incorporated into a large domus with a central peristyle during the Augustan period. From the 3rd century AD, this domus became an industrial fulling mill, a fullonica used for dyeing fabrics; it remained in use until the 5th century AD. The Sito is currently closed for restoration and enhancement work.

The Sito Archeologico di Largo Sant’Anna preserves the remains of a Roman domus dated from the end of the Republican period to the early imperial period, around the 1st century BC. The site also preserves the overlying remains of the Cattedrale Sanctae Mariae Aprutiense.

The Cathedral and City History

After Teramo was destroyed in 1155–1156, Bishop Guido II began building a new cathedral. It was completed in 1176 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The portal was created in 1332: Deodato Romano made and signed it as an artist of the Cosmatesque school. Beneath the main altar is the Paliotto, a masterpiece by Nicola da Gradiagrele, commissioned by Giosia d’Acquaviva and made between 1433 and 1448.

The Museo Civico Archeologico “F. Savini” is currently closed. Its ground-floor route traces Teramo’s history from protohistoric finds through Roman Interamnia Praetut(t)iorum to the Middle Ages. It covers public and private buildings as well as extramural necropolises; finds from the Basilica Sancta Mariae Aprutiense document the medieval period. The first-floor route explores the Ager Praetut(t)ianus: the area inhabited by the Italic Praetutii, which in Roman times formed the territory administered by the Municipium Interamnia.

Exhibitions, Culture and the River Landscape

Opened in October 2011, the L’Arca venue in Largo San Matteo plans artistic and educational activities in contemporary art and organizes temporary exhibitions. At times, it is open to the public for exhibitions, conferences, meetings, seminars and book presentations, provided these are compatible with the venue’s use. The Sala Ipogea is a 600-square-metre underground hall in Teramo for cultural activities.

Since November 2022, the project “La Pinacoteca si ascolta” has paired four exhibited works—one in each room—with soundscapes composed specifically for them. Painting and specially composed sounds together offer a way to engage with the selected works.

Teramo’s urban river landscape includes the Parco fluviale del Vezzola and the Lungofiume del Tordino, combining natural and urban scenery. The Parco del Vezzola is equipped for play, sports and walks. The green spaces and river landscape thus complement the city’s archaeological and historical themes with a different perspective on Teramo.

For your trip planning, the sites differ mainly in their themes and stated visiting conditions: the two archaeological sites mentioned at the Teatro romano and Largo Madonna delle Grazie are currently closed, while the Area Archeologica di Madonna della Cona is open on request. If you are looking for a hotel for a culture-focused stay, Teramo offers a range of historical highlights—from Roman houses and burial sites to the cathedral and its works of art.

Discover more destinations: Castiglione Messer Raimondo, Controguerra, Cermignano, Roseto Degli Abruzzi, Morro D'oro, Montone, Rocca Santa Maria, Villa Lempa.

Go to the main travel overview: Teramo.