Mediolanum

A walk through the remains of the ancient Roman Empire

Overview

The first concrete sources on Milan’s foundation and its name’s origin date back to the Insubri Gauls. This population of Celtic origin migrated southwards from the cold Germanic territories. It arrived in Northern Italy, creating the first actual settlement around the 6th-4th century BCE, thus defining the city’s origins.

However, the Insubrians soon attracted the attention of the rising power of Rome, which conquered the territory and Latinised the city. From then on, such a humble settlement went down into history as Mediolanum. The name is a Roman version of its Celtic origin, meaning village in the middle of the plain. Milan is in fact, located in the centre of the Po Valley in northern Italy, a characteristic that shaped its historical importance. From its roman subjugation, the citadel grew in power, becoming a Roman colony in 89 BCE. The town rose its status to Municipium, meaning central province, in 49 BCE. Later, after periods of power consolidation over the centuries, it finally became a de facto capital of the Roman Empire in 286 CE. 

Mediolanum acquired much attention thanks to its strategic position, representing a transit centre for goods and supplies exchange and an essential military passage used by roman legions to march northwards to conquer Gaul, Germanic territories and Celtic lands. 

Despite today’s industrialisation, the city still offers incredible and valuable evidence of a glorious past awaiting exploration. We will discover both famous and hidden places through the lenses of ancient Roman times, suggesting a beautiful contrast between the old Mediolanum and modern Milan.