Discover Marino: Underground Caves, Mithraeum and Wine Tradition

Marino Between the Underground and Urban History

Marino combines a historic centre with an unusual underground world, ancient pictorial evidence, religious and urban history, and a winemaking tradition. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Marino, these different aspects can be deliberately incorporated into your travel plans: underground spaces, collections, churches, a distinctive fountain, and traces of stone and wine culture each add their own accents.

Marino Sotterranea Beneath the Historic Centre

Marino sotterranea consists of an extensive network of caves, some of which are interconnected. The cavities lie approximately 12 metres below street level and extend for dozens of kilometres beneath the historic centre. Access to this special part of Marino is only possible by prior reservation. Anyone planning a visit should take this fixed requirement into account when arranging their days.

Ancient Pictorial Art in the Mithraeum

The Mithraeum of Marino is one of only three Mithraea in Italy with a painted scene depicting the Mithraic mysteries. The image was executed in encaustic directly on the plaster lining of the cistern.

The painting, created in the 2nd century AD, shows Mithras killing a white bull. The combination of dated Roman pictorial art, a mythological subject and a location beneath the city gives Marino a clearly recognisable historical profile.

Museum Evidence and Religious Sites

The Museo Civico Umberto Mastroianni is housed in the former church of Santa Lucia. The church was built over a Roman cistern dating from the 1st or 2nd century BC. The museum displays classical statues, funerary steles, sarcophagi, inscriptions and a fragment of a presbytery enclosure. Thus, the history of a religious building, Roman architectural history and various archaeological objects come together in one building.

Streets, Fountains and Churches in the Town

Via del Riccio runs through the historic centre of Marino and provides a concrete point of reference for finding your way around the town centre. The Fontana dei Mori is also one of the city’s defining historic landmarks: it was commissioned in 1632 to celebrate Marcantonio II Colonna’s victory in the Battle of Lepanto and became a symbol of Marino. The Basilica of San Barnaba Apostolo was built through the devotion of the Colonna family and is one of the largest and most important churches in its diocese.

Stone and Wine as Further Themes

The quarries of Cave di Peperino operated from Roman times until 1960. The Museo del Vino focuses on a different theme. It is a private collection of winemaking and viticulture equipment typical of Marino and the Castelli Romani, which was used until a few decades ago.

Choose a Holiday Apartment in Marino by Travel Theme

Via del Riccio points to the historic centre, while Cave di Peperino and the Museo del Vino cover the themes of stone, viticulture and regional tradition. If the caves are part of your plans, prior reservation remains the key organisational point.

Further Destinations for Orientation

For your further travel planning, you can also include Cecchina, Palidoro, San Gregorio Da Sassola, Bracciano, Pisciarelli, Moricone, Torrimpietra and Marcellina in your plans.

For the overarching travel overview: Rome.