THE FALERII NOVI PROJECT

The Roman town of Falerii Novi sits 50km north of Rome on the ancient Via Amerina. According to historical sources, it was founded after the Roman conquest of the nearby Faliscan centre of Falerii Veteres in 241 BC (Polyb. 1.65; Liv. Epit. 20; Eutrop. 2.28; Oros. 4.11; Zon. 8.18). The urban site appears to have persisted at least until the first half of the sixth century AD, with the bishopric of Aquaviva ascribed to the site in AD 465 (Duchesne, 1892). A monastery and church of Santa Maria di Falleri were founded by Cistercians and first mentioned in documents of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, now forming the only standing structure on site other than the ancient circuit walls.