Terme di Como Romana (Roman Baths of Como), Como

Little did Pliny the Younger suspect that the thermal baths he donated to his native city of Como would turn up two thousand years later under a city parking lot. The parking lot is underground. The baths are underground. A small sign in the multi-story parking says "Roman Baths of Como."

The underground parking project was planned in the 70s. When work began, a bit of the bath complex was uncovered. A formal excavation proceeded along with the construction of the parking. The walls of eight rooms covering 1,500 square meters were unearthed. They were identified as originating from the 1st century AD.

In 2006 further excavation revealed ten more rooms dated from the 2nd century. They surround a central courtyard. Their functions are unknown. Visitors can see the archaeological ruins from the ground floor, which lies beneath the new parking garage or walk through the exhibit.

Two small showrooms with explanatory panels preserve artifacts discovered during excavations from 2006-2008. The archeological site, located at Lecco Avenue (Viale Lecco,) opens to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; admission to the remains of Roman Baths is free.