S. Giovanni Metro C station to display archaeological finds when it opens in autumn.

Rome commuters had a sneak preview of the new S. Giovanni station on the capital's Metro C line on 1 April, ahead of its scheduled opening this autumn.

The ultra-modern station will display dozens of ancient Roman archaeological finds - alongside descriptions in English - whose discovery was partially responsible for delaying the troubled Metro C project.

The S. Giovanni station will be crucial to the capital’s overall underground network as it will connect Metro C - Rome's third metro line - with Metro A and the central Termini station.

When it opens, S. Giovanni will become the 22nd station on the driverless 18-km C line. The easternmost section opened in November 2014, with 15 stations from Pantano to Centocelle, while the second section was launched in July 2015, with six stations from Centocelle to Lodi, going towards S. Giovanni.

Since construction began in 1990, the C line has been beset with difficulties including funding overspends, lengthy delays and the abandonment of several of the stations in the initial plans for the section across the historic centre from the Colosseum to Castel S. Angelo caused by the discovery of archaeological remains underground.

Photos La Repubblica