# Scenes from an ancient Roman city — The Falerii Novi Project, Italy February 23, 2026 Founded in 241 BCE after the defeat of nearby Falerii Veteres (modern Civita Castellana), Falerii Novi emerged as a new Roman colony in central Italy, settled by a mix of Roman colonists and local Faliscan communities. Situated along the Via Amerina—an important route linking Rome to Umbria and north-central Italy—the city flourished as a regional hub. Within its well-preserved walls stood the familiar features of a major Roman settlement: forum, basilica, theater, amphitheatre, baths, aqueduct, temples, and sanctuaries. In the imperial period, the city was elevated to the prestigious status of *colonia* under Emperor Gallienus, a native of Falerii. Unlike many ancient cities that were continuously occupied and transformed, Falerii Novi was largely abandoned after the Roman period, leaving behind an unusually intact urban footprint. Today, it survives as a greenfield site enclosed by its ancient walls, with later medieval additions such as the abbey of Santa Maria di Fàlerii rising from within its boundaries. The [Falerii Novi Project](https://faleriinoviproject.org/) (FNP), launched in 2021 by teams from Harvard University, the University of Toronto, and the British School at Rome, is a multi-institutional excavation initiative dedicated to exploring this site. Building on previous non-invasive geophysical survey, the project combines stratigraphic excavation with multidisciplinary scientific analysis to move beyond monumental architecture and investigate the commercial, residential, and everyday dimensions of urban life. By focusing on how people lived, worked, and interacted within the city’s fabric, the FNP aims to shed new light on the long-term development of Roman urbanism in Italy. The following images capture moments from that ongoing effort—scenes from the ancient Roman city of Falerii Novi. ![Falerii_Novi_Project_0](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2026-02/Falerii_Novi_Project_0.jpeg) ![Falerii_Novi_Project_1](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2026-02/Falerii_Novi_Project_1.jpeg) ![Falerii_Novi_Project_2](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2026-02/Falerii_Novi_Project_2.jpeg) ![Falerii_Novi_Project_3](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2026-02/Falerii_Novi_Project_3.jpeg) ![Falerii_Novi_Project_4](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2026-02/Falerii_Novi_Project_4.jpeg) Images were kindly provided by [Margaret M. Andrews](https://margaretandrews.scholars.harvard.edu/) (Assistant Professor of Classics). You can learn more about the Falerii Novi Project on their website: . Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)