Students at a tech school in Rome had been exploring under the school for a long time, as students will do. Last year they finally told their Latin teacher. She brought in archeologists who excavated more of the filled in parts. Turns out the caverns were once an above-ground mansion owned by the Umbrius family, abandoned around 200 AD and occasionally explored ever since.
Something seems to be missing from the story. Lots of tourists and explorers were in there and left lots of graffiti. Why didn’t anyone ask about it until last year?
I’m jealous! I used to do the same thing when I was in high school, and “discovered” an old gas station in a cave, abandoned for 40 years. 1800 years beats 40 years!
Polistra's Mill 