The Roman Cisterns form an archaeological site in Fermo, dating to approx. 40 C.E., that lies beneath Via Paccarone, partially under the former Dominican convent next to the Church of San Dominic. They cannot be seen from the outside because of the private dwellings built on top of them. The entrance is in Via degli Aceti, a passageway dug out in 1210 when the convent was built. A second entrance in Vicolo Chiuso is usually used as an emergency exit. The passageway dating back to Roman times can only be seen from inside the cisterns, as the opening was recently bricked up.
In Roman times, the area of the underground structure which covers approximately 2.200 m2, was probably the site of the forum.
The structure has 30 rooms arranged in three parallel rows, in which rainwater was once collected to be distributed to the town. Until 1980, six rooms were still used to collect water from the sources on the Monti Sibillini for local use.
A smaller but equally well-preserved structure, built for the same purpose and dating to the same period, can be found at the entrance to Piazza del Popolo, a few hundred metres away from the Cisterns, but on higher ground. This structure is currently known as the Small Cisterns, and sits partly beneath the town hall.
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