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| Rome vacation guide - first itinerary: the Capitol, Capitoline Wolf, Marcus Aurelius Statue |
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| 1st itinerary | 2nd itinerary | 3rd itinerary | 4th itinerary |
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| 5th itinerary | 6th itinerary | 7th itinerary | 8th itinerary |
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| The Capitol - used for the triumphal processions during the Roman Empire, is presently the house of the Mayor. A big flight of steps lead to Piazza del Campidoglio - the first modern square, with a great terrace overlooking Rome. Michelangelo designed the best square in the world (as it was published by the New York Times) and, after his death, Della Porta continued the works which went on until 1654. Here you'll find Palazzo dei Conservatori (Conservatories Palace) (1400), the Pinacoteca Capitolina and Museo Nuovo, whereas on the left, you'll find Palazzo Nuovo (1600). |
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There are antique sculptures of marble and bronze representing the history of the city: the Capitoline Wolf and the famous bronze Statue of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 80), the only surviving example of the many equestrian statues that adorned Rome. It used to stand in the centre of the square until 1980, when was moved to the Capitoline Museum. Today, in the centre of the square we find a perfect copy of it. Photo: Statue of Marcus Aurelius. |
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| The Appartamento dei Conservatori (Conservatories Apartment) is decorated with imposing frescoes of the 16th and 17th centuries representing the history of Rome. Its rooms preserve antique and Baroque sculptures, such as: the statue of Urban VIII, and the Testa di Medusa (Jellyfish Head) by Bernini. Don't miss the Roman tapestries of the 18th century. The Pinacoteca Capitolina houses paintings by: Caravaggio, Tiziano, and Rubens, as well as a beautiful collection of porcelains. Piazza Venezia - the very heart of Rome. Its name comes from Palazzo Venezia built in 1455 by the Venetian Cardinal Paul II. Victor Emmanuel II Monument - built at the beginning of this century to celebrate the first King of Italy, is today the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Via dei Fori Imperiali (Imperial Fora Street) - built in 1932 and cut through the most fascinating Archaeological Area in the world, includes the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. |
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| In this area every single emperor left a sign of his greatness. If you start walking from Piazza Venezia, you'll find the Trajan's Column, built with 17 round marble blocks on a cubical base, Trajan's Forum, built in A.D. 100, and Nerva's Forum, built some few years before the former one. Photo: the Roman Forum. |
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| The construction of the Ara Pacis was ordered by Emperor Vespasian to celebrate the victory against the Jews, and it was restored some years later by Septimius Severus. If you keep walking towards the Colosseum, you'll find the Forum of Caesar, restored later by Trajan, and the Palatine Hill raising over the Fora. The legend says that the Palatine is the place where Romulus founded Rome. Here, you can admire: the house of Livia, Augustus' wife, the Temple of Magna Mater, the Augustan Domus, the Tiberian Domus, and the Flavian Domus. At the end of this street, you'll find the Colosseum, the most impressive amphitheatre ever existed in the Roman Empire. It was started by Vespasian, but it was finished by Tito in A.D. 80. It has an elliptical plant, whose diameters are 188 m. and 156 m. It used to serve as the scenery for gladiators and lions performances until A.D. 523 (when Theodoric prohibited them). 55.000 people could be hold on its tiers, which were 48 meters high. It was given the name Coliseum because of a colossal statue of Nero that had been built in the surrounding square. In A.D. 315, Constantine built the Arch of Constantine (close to the Coliseum) to celebrate his victory against Maxentius. Photo: Roman Colosseum. |
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