Tunnels of Claudius

Where: Avezzano
Best for: Claudius's six-kilometer emissary
Allow: 1 hour
Best time: Book a morning slot in spring or autumn

The Tunnels of Claudius are the emissary the emperor Claudius ordered to drain the Fucine Lake, a project run from about 41 to 52 AD by tens of thousands of workers. The main channel runs for more than six kilometers under Monte Salviano, linked to the surface by shafts and inclined service tunnels, and for centuries it was the longest tunnel in the world.

Claudius's engineers were never fully successful, and the lake was finally drained in the nineteenth century under Alessandro Torlonia, who restored the Roman work. Today an archaeological park protects the site, and the visit is a guided walk into the Ferraro gallery and out along the drainage channel. Hard hats and non-slip shoes are required.

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

The Ferraro gallery
A paved and lit section that lets you walk inside the Roman drainage system and see how the tunnels and shafts connect.Entrance to the underground visit
The vertical shaftsRoman engineers, about 41 to 52 AD
Dozens of shafts, used for digging and ventilation, break the underground line; looking up one is a good sense of scale.Along the tunnel
The opus reticulatum masonryRoman builders
Stretches of the original Roman netted masonry are still visible along the channel.In sections of the emissary
The Incile of FucinoCarlo Nicola Carnevali, 19th century
A monumental neoclassical intake structure with a statue of the Immaculate Conception, from the Torlonia era.At the intake of the emissary

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Booking: Book ahead
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: Book a morning slot in spring or autumn; bring a light jacket
Getting there: The park is at Borgo Incile, on the edge of Avezzano in the Marsica, in the province of L'Aquila. Avezzano has a station on the Rome to Pescara line; the site itself is easiest by car.
Accessibility: The route goes through underground galleries with uneven ground and requires a helmet and non-slip shoes; ask the superintendency about mobility needs when booking.

Visits are by guided tour only, with compulsory reservation by phone with the archaeological superintendency. Helmets are provided and non-slip shoes are required. Guided slots are limited, so ask about dates when booking.