Visitors to Rome are about to be able to add a pretty iconic stop on their next tour of the city. Last week Rome’s mayor, Virginia Raggi, announced the restoration and opening of the Largo di Torre Argentina — the site where Julius Caesar was stabbed 22 times to death by rival Roman senators on March 15, 44 BC. The remains of the complex that includes the Theater of Pompey, the Senate House, and four temples, were first excavated back in the 1920s by Benito Mussolini. Since then, however, the archaeological site has largely been ignored and off-limits — to human visitors, anyway. One temple in the complex currently serves as a cat sanctuary.
Photo: Adisa/Shutterstock
The Site of Julius Caesar’s Murder Will Soon Open to Tourists
In detailing plans for the site’s opening, the mayor also revealed that the area will be fully accessible to all, with walkways, nighttime lighting, and even a museum. She also assured cat-lovers that the renovations will not disrupt the cat sanctuary, currently housed in Temple D — one of the complex’s four temples.
The renovation will cost around $907,000, and is being funded by fashion house Bulgari. Jean-Christophe Babin, Bulgari CEO, told reporters that “Rome is always the main source of inspiration for Bulgari. This site has an extraordinary value because it’s the oldest open-air spot in Rome.”
Largo di Torre Argentina is projected to be open to the public by the second half of 2021. 
H/T: The Points Guy