Italy Finds 2,000-Year-Old Basilica by Ancient Master

After five centuries of searching, archaeologists in Fano, Italy have unearthed a 2,000-year-old basilica designed by the man known as the "father of architecture."

The ancient public building was created by Vitruvius, a Roman architect and engineer from the 1st century BC. His book "De architectura" remains the oldest surviving guide to architecture and has influenced artists for generations, including Leonardo da Vinci, who created his famous "Vitruvian Man" drawing based on Vitruvius' teachings about perfect proportions.

"I feel like this is the discovery of the century," said Fano Mayor Luca Serfilippi at Monday's announcement. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called it "a sensational finding" that future generations will still be discussing.

What makes this discovery remarkable is how perfectly it matches Vitruvius' own written descriptions. The basilica features a rectangular layout with 10 columns on the long sides and four on the short sides, exactly as he described in his ancient texts.

The precision amazed even experienced archaeologists. When traces of four columns first appeared during excavation, the team used Vitruvius' descriptions to calculate where the top right column should be located. They started digging in that exact spot and immediately found it.

Why This Inspires

Regional archaeological superintendent Andrea Pessina told reporters there are "few certainties in archaeology," but his team was genuinely impressed by how accurate the ancient architect's writings proved to be. The discovery validates centuries of scholarship and demonstrates the incredible precision of Roman engineering.

The find connects us directly to the mind of a master whose ideas shaped how humans have built cities for two millennia. His principles still guide architects today, and now we can walk where his vision became reality.

Archaeologists will continue excavating to determine how much more of the basilica lies underground and whether the site can be opened to visitors so everyone can experience this remarkable piece of history.