On Screen · 8th century BC to Middle Ages · Rome, Lazio, Italy
New France Télévisions documentary follows Rome's Metro Line C into the buried city
France Télévisions says the film had exceptional access to Rome's monuments and the building sites beside them, but its press page names no archaeologists or finds.
Official announcement
Rome, Italy France Télévisions has announced Rome, sous les pavés, l'Histoire (Rome, history under the paving stones), a new documentary about the archaeology beneath the Italian capital. The 90-minute film follows the works on Line C of Rome's metro. The broadcaster says it reveals archaeological wonders buried under the city.
The broadcaster lists the film as a 2025 production and as inédit, meaning it has not been shown before. It belongs to Science grand format, a documentary strand presented by Mathieu Vidard. The strand airs on Thursdays at 21.05. The press page does not give the date of the first broadcast.
Who made the film
Massimo My and Laurent Portes wrote the documentary. Portes also directed it. Three companies produced it: Artline Films, MyMax Edutainment and Idéacom International. France Télévisions took part in the production.
According to the broadcaster, the team had exceptional access to some of Rome's finest monuments. It also filmed on the building sites next to them. France Télévisions describes the film as a new exploration led by leading specialists in urban archaeology.
The press material does not name those specialists. It also does not say which monuments, excavations or objects appear on screen.
The broadcaster presents the documentary as a dive into the depths of a city that has kept reinventing itself for three thousand years. Vidard's strand covers new discoveries in archaeology, space and biology.
What lies under the metro route
Line C is Rome's third metro line. Its route runs towards the historic centre. There, the ancient and medieval city lies in layers under the modern streets.
Building the line has therefore gone hand in hand with archaeological excavation. Archaeologists call this rescue or preventive archaeology. They record and remove remains before construction destroys them.
San Giovanni station opened on Line C in 2018. It displays objects found during its own excavation. Passengers can see these finds as they pass through the station.
The city's history does stretch back about three millennia. Roman tradition dated the founding of Rome to 753 BC. Archaeologists have found Iron Age huts on the Palatine Hill. These are among the oldest known traces of settlement on the site of the city.
Sources
- Rome, sous les pavés, l'Histoire (France Télévisions)
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