Ruins of ancient garden believed to belong to Emperor Caligula discovered near Vatican during excavations

ROME — ROME (AP) — Archaeological excavations near the Vatican have uncovered the remains of an ancient garden overlooking the right bank of the Tiber River that likely belonged to Roman Emperor Caligula, the Italian Culture Ministry said Thursday.

The discovery was made during construction work on a pedestrian square linking Castel Sant'Angelo to St. Peter's Basilica and its boulevard Via della Conciliazione, one of the most visited tourist sites in Rome.

In ancient times, the area was home to prestigious imperial residences overlooking the Tiber, with spectacular porticoes, promenades and gardens. A travertine wall, the foundations of a colonnaded portico and a garden remain underground, the ministry said.

The excavations also uncovered a lead water pipe bearing the name of the owner of the water supply and probably the garden.

The details point to Caligula, son of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, and emperor of Rome from 37 to 41, the ministry said, adding that there are literary references that appear to confirm the site's connection to Caligula.

The excavation also revealed a large series of figurative terracotta tiles used to decorate roofs, with unusual mythological scenes, reused as covers for drains, but probably originally made for the roofing of a structure in the garden, the ministry said.

The project is part of the Vatican's Jubilee in 2025, a holy year that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. The run-up to the Jubilee has seen the launch of dozens of long-delayed construction projects, including the €79.5 million square, with an underlying tunnel redirecting traffic underground.

The project, located in Piazza Pia, is expected to be completed by December.