From the beginning of the 2nd century BC the impetuous economic and demographic development had made the old river port of the Foro Boario completely inadequate, which could not be enlarged due to its proximity to the hills. For this reason, in 193 BC. the builders (in charge of urbis care) Marco Emilio Lepido and Lucio Emilio Paolo decided to tackle the problem by rebuilding a new port in a free area on the edge of the city south of the Aventine. On that occasion the Porticus Emilia was also built.
In 174 BC the Emporium was paved in stone and was divided by barriers with stairways that descended to the Tiber. Here was the landing point of goods and raw materials (primarily marble, wheat, wine, oil) which, arriving by sea from the port of Ostia, went up the Tiber on barges towed by buffaloes (hauling). Over the centuries, the shards of amphorae, which were the containers of the time for the handling of liquid food, were accumulated in mounds, composing the Monte dei Cocci, which still exists: from it derives the ancient name of Mons Testaceum, the "Monte dei shards ", in fact. The number of stacked amphorae is estimated at around 25 million.
The port was dug in 1868-1870 during the rearrangement works and again in 1952. Today there are some visible sections embedded in the embankment of the Lungotevere Testaccio: a quay about 500 meters long and 90 deep with steps and ramps towards the river, with blocks of travertine protruding for holes for mooring ships, similar in all respects to that of the Roman port of Aquileia. Building the modern Testaccio district, various remains of warehouses reappeared, including the tomb of the consul Servio Sulpicio Galba, one of the oldest individual sepulchers to have survived.
Emporium Porto Fluviale
Address: Lungotevere Testaccio, 11
Phone:
Site:
http://www.mercatoditestaccio.it/museo-diffuso-testaccio/Location inserted by
Marco Messina