Balbi Crypt

The Balbi Crypt shows Rome’s past through excavations performed on its site. It’s one of the four branches of the National Museum of Rome.

Origins of the crypt

Balbi Crypt

Balbi Crypt Museum

The Balbi Crypt originally consisted of a theatre, a four-floor block and a patio. Built between 19 and 13 BC under the orders of Lucius Cornelius Balbus, the theatre had a crypt where people refreshed themselves and drank during breaks from the performances.

Over time, the theatre was forgotten and buried by other buildings over the course of different time periods. Excavation began in 1981, and twenty years after restoration, they were added to the National Museum of Rome.

The exhibits

The upper floor has exhibits of objects made between Antiquity and the Middle Ages, showing the lifestyle of Roman citizens between the fifth and tenth centuries.

The lower floor is the site of the excavations in the context of the area’s history. There are displays of the remains of the excavations in the Balbi Crypt and other Roman sites.

The basement is the most interesting part of the museum. The excavations next to the Teatro Balbus, which can be seen when touring the moist, dark passageways, are located here.

Four for the price of one

Although the excavations in the Balbi Crypt are not as interesting as those of the Basilica di San Clemente or other places, entry to the Crypt is included in the ticket to the other branches of the National Museum of Rome, (Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Altemps). If you have enough time after visiting the most interesting places in Rome, you can make a quick visit to the crypt.