Todi Sotterranea: Unearthing Todi's Hidden Depths

Beneath the charming hilltop town of Todi lies a hidden world: Todi Sotterranea, or Underground Todi. This intricate network of man-made cavities reveals the city's layered past, showcasing the ingenuity of its inhabitants across centuries. Explore over 3 km of tunnels and galleries, marvel at dozens of pre-Roman, Roman, and medieval cisterns, and discover hundreds of wells from various eras. These underground structures weren't just for show; they served a vital purpose. They were designed to manage the flow of water, prevent landslides, and provide a crucial water supply to the city perched atop an isolated hill. Lacking an external aqueduct, Todi relied on these subterranean systems to capture and distribute water. Public fountains, fed by the tunnels, quenched the city's thirst, while wells tapped into groundwater, and cisterns stored rainwater. The Roman cisterns under Piazza del Popolo, remarkably preserved, offer a glimpse into this ancient engineering. After the completion of a modern aqueduct in 1925, the underground system was slowly forgotten. However, these spaces remained largely untouched, preserving a unique record of Todi's history. Today, guided tours offer a chance to rediscover this hidden city and appreciate the resourcefulness of those who came before.