Sites of Roman History

S.P.Q.R. (The Senate and People of Rome.)

The Aurelian Wall

This wall is 19 kilometers in perimeter around the city of Rome. It was built by Emperor Aurelianusi in 272 ad. to protect the capital from the threat of invasions. It had three hundred towers, 2000 small windows and 14 main gates corresponding to the roads starting from Rome. A visual section of the wall still stands at the north end of the street called Via Veneto. This portion of the wall is seen from the Piazza del Popola. The Porta Pinciana is the decorative gate which is in the Piazza. The gate marks one of the southern entrances to the Villa Borghese. At this point the wall follows such an irregular pattern that the Romans call it the crooked wall (Muro Torto). When the Goths led by the Witigis besieged Rome in 600 ad they failed to take advantage of the break in this area of the wall. The Romans concluded that this area must be protected by St. Peter.

The Villa Borghese

The Casino Borghese is the summer house built for Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The villa was built in 1613. The park was designed by the Duch architect Jonan Van Santen, who italicised his name into Giovanni Vasanzio. The building was turned into a Museum in 1902, "The Borghese Gallery."

The Piazza del Popolo

In the Piazza del Popolo stands the towering obelisk of Ramses II. Augustus brought it to Rome two thousand years ago. It dates from the thirteen century BC.
On one side of the piazza are the twin churches by Bernin: Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Marie dei Miracoli. However, on the other side is the much more interesting church, Santa Maria del Popolo. Within this church are works of Bramante, Bregno, Pinturicchio, Raphael, Sansovino, Caravaggio, etc.

The Spanish Steps

The church of Trinita dei Monti, which was founded by King Charles VIII of France in 1495, towers at the top of the Spanish Steps. This inside of this church is breathtaking. Outside stands an imitation Egyptian obelisk transported from Sallust's gardens near the Salaria gate by Pope Pius VI. The boat fountain at the base of the steps was designed by Berninis fater, Pietro (1627 - 1629) for Pope Urban VIII. Decorated at the ends with the suns and bee's of the Barberini coat of arms. The Keat's house is on the right at the foor of the Spanish Steps. Mementoes on the lives of Keasts, Shelly, Byron, and Leight Hunt are displayed in the house.

The Barberini Palace and Triton Fountain

Just northeast of the Trevi Fountain, are two foutians by Bernini. The first one is the Trition Fountain 1642. Four dolphins supporthing an open scallop shell in which sits a triton blowing into a conch. The Barberini bees on the coat of arms are an echo of the nearby Barberini Palace built by Pope Urban VIII. The second fountain is The Fountain of Bees (Fontana delle Api). Borromini and Bernini completed the palace in 1633. The palace now contains a great Picture Gallery, with work of Raphael, Filippo Lippi (1437), among others.

The Mausoleum of Augustus Caesar

Just west of the Spanish Steps along the banks of the Tiber River is the "Augusteum". This is a mausoleum that Caesar built for himself and his family in 28 bc. On one side of the runis of the enormous circular tomb stands an insignificant modern structure containing the Ara Pacis Augustae, (The Alter of Augstan Peace). It was built to celebrate the peaceful times established by Caesar after the long war period.

The Piassa Navona

On the east side of the Tiber River, between the Pantheon and the river itself is the neighbor hood of the Piazza Navona. This is one of the most superb squares in Rome. It is built over the ruins of the Statium of Domitian. It has kept the elliptical shape of the racing track. At the center of the square stands the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Fiumi), by Bernini. It was built for Pope Innocent X. The Popes Palace (Palazzo Pamphili) is right next to the major church in the square, Saint Agnese in Agone. This wonderful fountain is said to represent the four rivers of the world: The Danube for Europe, the Nile for Africa, the Ganges for Asia and the Plate for America. The Obelisk on top is work dating from Domitian's reign. The two minor fountains in the square are: The Fountain of Moor and The Fountain of Neptune, both from the 1600's.

Saint Angese in Agone

Saint Agnese in Agone is a wonderful church. Parts of the dome were designed by Borromini, who was commissioned by Pope Innocent X.

Other sites in this neighborhood include:

Palazzo Massimo with Saint Pantaleon's Church

Palazzo Braschi with the Rome Museum

Piazza di Pasquino with the statue of Pasquino.

Piazza Chiesa Nuova (The New Church) and Terrina Fountain.

Piazza dell'Orologio on the Via dei Filippini with its clock tower and Madonna on the corner of the building.

Santa Maria della Pace - The arch of the first chapel on the right was decorated by Raphael in 1514, he painted the four Sibyls inspired by Michelangelo's work on the Sixtine Chapel.

The Pantheon (greek word: all the gods)

The Pantheon was first built by Agrippa 27 - 25 bc. The present temple is one Emperor Hadrian rebuilt in 120 - 125 ad. It was consecrated as a church dedicated to St. Mary of All Martyrs in 608 ad by Pope Boniface IV. It remains intact with its original doors surviving eighteen centuries.

After the unification of Italy the Pantheon became the mausoleum for the Kings:

Vittorio Emanuele II

Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita di Savoia.

Raphael is also buried in the Pantheon.