After centuries of searching, archaeologists have confirmed the existence of a basilica described by Roman architect Vitruvius in his treatise De architectura. Located in Fano, Italy, this 2,000-year-old structure was designed by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, making it the first building Vitruvius claimed to have designed that archaeology has proven correct. Excavations revealed a rectangular building surrounded by a peristyle of columns, with eight columns along the long sides and four along the shorter ends. Column diameters of approximately 5 Roman feet match Vitruvius's measurements almost perfectly, and evidence of pilasters and corner supports indicates a second story. The original structure would have stood around 15 meters tall.
Vitruvius' basilica confirmed in Fano, Italy after centuries of searching
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Key facts
- 1st century BCE, 2,000 years ago
- Fano, Italy
- Designed by Marcus Petruvius Pollio, Roman architect
- First building Vitruvius claimed to have designed confirmed through archaeology
- Described in Vitruvius' De architectura
- Rectangular structure surrounded by peristyle of columns
- First hint found in 2023 during building renovation
- Impressive Roman walls and marble pavements revealed
- New excavation tied to Piazza Andrea Costa redevelopment
- Stratographic probe revealed foundations and column bases
- Eight columns along long sides, four along shorter sides
- Fifth corner column unearthed to confirm orientation and footprint
- Columns diameter approximately 5 Roman feet (147-150 cm)
- Estimated original height around 15 meters
- Columns attached to pilasters and corner supports indicating second story
- Near-perfect match to measurements in De architectura
- Excavation continuing to investigate broader archaeological context
Site mentioned
Sources
Centuries' long search finally comes to fruitionandantetravels.co.uk
Excavations carried out in January in Piazza Andrea Costa and the adjacent Piazza degli Avveduti have brought to light a basilica (an ...
Remains of only building by Vitruvius found after centuries ...thehistoryblog.com
The only building known to have been designed by Vitruvius himself was found under Piazza Andrea Costa in a preventative archaeology excavation ...
Vitruvius and the Built World of the New Testamentbiblicalarchaeology.org
In book 5 of his treatise De Architectura (“On Architecture”), Vitruvius described a basilica in Fanum Fortunae that he designed and oversaw.
Archaeologists Confirm Fano Discovery as Vitruvius ...arkeonews.net
Vitruvius wrote about the building in Book V of De Architectura, describing it as a rectangular structure surrounded by a peristyle of columns.
Archaeologists find lost basilica tied to the father of ...nypost.com
Archaeologists discovered a 2000-year-old basilica in Italy linked to Vitruvius, the engineer known as the father of architecture.
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