Rome's urban landscape was transformed over the centuries by floods, earthquakes, wars and cultural changes, as evidenced by the city's underground remains. Rome is a city where modern life and ancient ruins coexist.

However many tourists are surprised to discover that a sizable chunk of ancient Rome is buried beneath the present city, often up to 10 metres below the surface. To understand why, we must examine the intriguing interactions between time, urbanisation and geological forces that moulded Rome over the ages.