ssander

Hi all...

I have read (can't remember where but it was an older book) that it is possible to get needed written permission to go down into the Largo Argentina ruins.

About three weeks ago, I wrote a letter to who (I thought) was in charge requesting permission:

Ufficio Monumenti Antichi e Scavi
Via del Portico d’Ottavio 29
00186 Roma
Italy

So far no answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
SS

tarquin

I have never seen anyone other than workers actually amongst the ruins of Largo Argentina, and in October there were quite a few excavating and rebuilding walls.

You can however visit the cat sanctuary which is down the steps on the on the Via Florida side. They welcome visitors and donations during opening hours. This is one of the first places we go on every trip to Rome.

amyb

Good to hear that the cat sanctuary is still there. I had heard/read somewhere that it might be moved? I'm going back in May 2014 and look forward to that visit as well!

tarquin

I think there was a threatened removal earlier this year but it's still going strong.

flygirl

I visited the cat sanctuary and have a picture of one I call Fearless Fang Fang. Very friendly, and his fangs stick out of his mouth like a walrus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/11177009333/

I did not see people walking around inside the ruins.

colonna

Persist in your inquiries; sometimes after many "no's", you find the person who can tell you how to arrange something.

Also, ask at the cat sanctuary. Three or so years ago, they posted notices about a tour through the ruins. Unfortunately when it came time, permission was denied to go down onto the site. The guide took us around the walls and explained what we were looking at, was well worth it.

kismetchimera

I have never seen anyone walking below other than the employees.
I have taken many photos of the cats..There is a Calico that's a beauty.

PalenQ

usually some old newspapers and garbage also in it IME!

Rostra

I have been to a few of these closed-off sites over the years, there is/was an italian official website that listed when these sites would be open (a few hours every few months)and reservations were required.

An official with keyes shows-up and opens the site and allows those with reservations to enter.

I only did this via ContextRome and not on my own.

My "guess" is unless you are a scholar likely very high-up in your field or a documentary film maker you as an average Joe/Jane would not get an official private opening of a closed-off site?

In Oct 2012 when the news was focused on this site as the assassination site of Julius Caesar and the possible closing of the cat santuary they "claimed" that the site would be opened to tourists in 2013 but reopening dates are usually never meet IME.

If you scroll-down to the Mar 1, 12 11:35 post in this thread it gives a location of the Curia Pompey where Julius Caesar was assassinated. --Regards--

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

---OR---

http://tinyurl.com/juliusmuzzy

Rostra

This seems to be the website I mentioned http://www.info.roma.it/visite_guidate_roma.asp

One of the sites to be opened in the next few months is one I visited "Mitreo del Circo Massimo" (Mithraeum at Circus Maximus)it will be open twice in March and once in April and May.

In a google search I noticed that licensed Rome tourguides can book a opening also so something like that would be hiring a guide and also paying the for an official to come and open the site.

It has been a few years but I used to check that site for my winter visits to Rome and the Largo Argentina would have been at the *top* of list because I would have loved to stand in the assassination site.
But I had never seen that site listed as one that was ever opened and my window was Nov-March for at least 5yrs.

Maybe it will be opened before your visit but my guess would be if it ever opens to the public it will be limited to ancient street in front of the temples? Good Luck!

ssander

Thanks for the information, all.

In info.roma site looks great...thanks so mach, Rostra...but nothing convenient for my dates (except possibly the San Clemente tour, which is one of my favorite churches)...maybe next visit.

SS