Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Kraken Habitat
Skye Textile Mill
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Inside the Rothko Chapel
These Monuments Showcase the Beauty of Brutalism
1 day ago
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
2 days ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
2 days ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Bologna Roman Ruins of Salaborsa Library

Roman Ruins of Salaborsa Library

The remains of an ancient Roman city are hidden underneath Bologna's beautiful public library.

Bologna, Italy

Added By
Taylor
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Roman ruins underneath the library.   tgiorno1 / Atlas Obscura User
Roman ruins underneath the library.   tgiorno1 / Atlas Obscura User
Roman ruins underneath the library.   tgiorno1 / Atlas Obscura User
Roman ruins underneath the library.   tgiorno1 / Atlas Obscura User
Roman ruins underneath the library.   tgiorno1 / Atlas Obscura User
Exterior of the library.   HartemLijn/cc by-sa 4.0
Inside the library.   Palickap/cc by-sa 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

When the Romans designed the city of Bologna in the 2nd and 3rd century BC, they really built it to last. And last it did: Excavation of the historic center of Bologna in the 1990s uncovered the two main streets built during the Roman Empire, still intact beneath the gorgeous Salaborsa Library in the city's most popular piazza.

The Salaborsa Library (Biblioteca Salaborsa) is a modern space housed within a beautiful historic building, sitting on top of an extraordinary piece of history. You can see the underground ruins from the main room in the library, through the clear glass panes in the floor. It's worth getting a closer look though, so head downstairs to the small museum to further explore this hidden remnant of antiquity.

Before you enter the archaeological area, there is a timeline of the history of Bologna, at the end of which is a door. Through the door, you are transported back in time, surrounded by ancient building foundations, a well, and even an ancient sewage system. A kind Italian guide may even be available to point out the different layers of history, which are clearly visible in the remarkably preserved structures. The deepest, oldest levels of the ruins may date back even earlier than the founding of Bologna, suggesting a settlement already existed here before the Romans.

Related Tags

Libraries Ruins Ancient Roman Hidden Underground History Archaeology

Know Before You Go

When you enter the Salaborsa Library, take the staircase to the left to access the museum. It is free to enter, although they do ask a small donation if you are able. The library and museum are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

tgiorno1

Edited By

Meg

  • Meg

Published

March 11, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Roman Ruins of Salaborsa Library
1 Piazza del Nettuno
Bologna
Italy
44.494117, 11.342759
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Fountain of Neptune

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Monument to Fallen Partisans

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Statue of Pope Gregory XIII

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bologna

Bologna

Italy

Places 19
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Fountain of Neptune

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Monument to Fallen Partisans

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Statue of Pope Gregory XIII

Bologna, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bologna

Bologna

Italy

Places 19
Stories 2

Related Places

  • The remnants of the ancient eatery.

    Pompeii, Italy

    Pompeii Thermopolium

    Before it was buried by volcanic ash, this fast-food restaurant fed the hungry hordes of ancient Rome.

  • The Roman theater seen from Amman Citadel.

    Amman, Jordan

    Roman Theater of Amman

    This exceptionally well-preserved ancient marvel also houses a small museum dedicated to Jordanian folk tradition.

  • A staircase excavated from the tuff leads to a depth of 120 feet (40 meters).

    Naples, Italy

    Naples Underground

    A labyrinth of ancient tunnels hidden below the city holds the ruins of 2,500 years of history.

  • Chedworth Roman Villa, view from northeast.

    Gloucestershire, England

    Chedworth Roman Villa

    Deep in the countryside lie the remains of one of the grandest Roman dwellings in Britain.

  • Thermae Maiores

    Budapest, Hungary

    Thermae Maiores

    Legions of Roman soldiers bathed in this ancient spa complex under a Budapest transit station.

  • View from Above; a more recent concrete construction can be seen nearby

    Green Island, Taiwan

    Youzihu

    The ruins of a prehistoric village hide on a remote Taiwanese island.

  • Foundation of the Aqueduct

    Barcelona, Spain

    Foundations of the Roman Aqueduct of Barcino

    These 2000 year old remains of a Roman aqueduct are hidden inside a hotel lobby.

  • The Headquarters building

    Ambleside, England

    Ambleside Roman Fort

    This beautifully situated lakeside Roman settlement was likely built during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.