Buried treasures lie under the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi: the ruins of a Roman house dating back to the Augustan age. According to several eminent scholars, these ruins, discovered about 40 years ago, belong to the house in which the great latin poet Properzio resided. His birthplace, instead, is still contended among numerous umbrian towns. The excavations, carried out thanks to the efforts of the druggist Fioravante Caldari and encouraged by bishop Mons. Nicolini, brought to light a house which still has its original mosaic floor and some frescos. A latin graffito was also discovered in the Domus in which an unknown visitor wrote to have "paid homage to the poet's house". Recently, after carrying out an accurate study on these domus musae ruins, the eminent scholar Guarducci affermed in one of his works that the learned owner of the Roman house was exactly the great latin poet Properzio. The fact that Properzio came from Assisi is attested by various proofs. This important cultural treasure unfortunately isn't open to the public because the Soprintendenza ai beni archeologici (Monuments and Fine Arts Service) has always been deeply concerned for the safety of the fresco threatened by humidity. In the past few years, thanks to technical measures taken by restorers, the municipal administration has requested permission of the Soprintendenza to open the Roman house to the public once a month on an experimental basis. At this stage the last word is up to the authorities of the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (Central Restoration Institute), which has been delegated to decide by the Soprintendenza.

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