Piazza del Campidoglio: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction

Did you know that the Piazza del Campidoglio, the square on the top of the Capitoline Hill, was the first modern square to be designed in Rome? Or that it was the seat of the Roman Senate, the government base of ancient Rome, and the site of numerous religious shrines? If you want to learn more about this fascinating place, its history, its secrets, and its legends, read on.

Historical Context

The Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, has been a sacred and political center since the founding of the city. According to legend, it was here that Romulus and Remus were suckled by the she-wolf, a symbol of Rome. It was also here that the Sabines, a neighboring tribe, were welcomed by Romulus after he kidnapped their women. The Sabines later attacked the city, but were stopped by the intervention of the Sabine women, who pleaded for peace between their husbands and fathers.

The hill was also home to several temples dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and other gods. The most important was the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, built in the 6th century BC by the Etruscan king Tarquinius Priscus. It was the largest temple in Rome and the site of many ceremonies and rituals. The hill also housed the Tabularium, the official records office of ancient Rome, where the laws and decrees were stored.

In the Middle Ages, the hill fell into decay and became a fortress for various noble families. It was also used as a prison and a place of execution. In 1536, Pope Paul III decided to renovate the hill for the visit of Emperor Charles V. He commissioned Michelangelo to design a new square that would face St. Peter's Basilica, instead of the Roman Forum. Michelangelo also redesigned the façades of the existing buildings: the Palazzo Senatorio (the Senatorial Palace), which became the city hall; the Palazzo dei Conservatori (the Palace of the Conservators), which became a museum; and the Palazzo Nuovo (the New Palace), which was built as a symmetrical counterpart to the Palazzo dei Conservatori.

Michelangelo also created a complex geometric pattern for the pavement of the square, with a star at its center. He placed a bronze equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the middle of the square, as a symbol of Rome's imperial glory. The statue is now a replica; the original is preserved in the Capitoline Museums. Michelangelo died before he could see his project completed; it was finished by his successors in the following centuries.

Lesser-Known Stories

The Piazza del Campidoglio has witnessed many events and stories that are not widely known. Here are some examples:

• In 1347, Cola di Rienzo, a popular leader who tried to restore the Roman Republic, was crowned as tribune in the Piazza del Campidoglio. He later lost his power and was killed by an angry mob in 1354.
• In 1471, Pope Sixtus IV donated some ancient statues to the city of Rome, which became the nucleus of the Capitoline Museums. Among them were the famous she-wolf with Romulus and Remus, the boy with a thorn in his foot (Spinario), and the head of Constantine.
• In 1600, Giordano Bruno, a philosopher who advocated heliocentrism and religious tolerance, was burned at the stake in Campo de' Fiori. His ashes were thrown into the Tiber River from Ponte Sisto. In 1889, a statue of Bruno was erected in Campo de' Fiori as a symbol of free thought.
• In 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi defended Rome from the French troops who wanted to restore Pope Pius IX's temporal power. He fought bravely in the Piazza del Campidoglio until he had to retreat to Villa Doria Pamphili. He later escaped from Rome with his wife Anita, who died during their flight.
• In 1924, Benito Mussolini, the leader of the Fascist regime, was wounded by a gunshot in the Piazza del Campidoglio. The attacker was Violet Gibson, an Irish woman who suffered from mental illness. She was arrested and deported to England, where she spent the rest of her life in a psychiatric hospital.

Intriguing Facts

The Piazza del Campidoglio is full of intriguing facts and details that reveal its rich history and culture. Here are some examples:

• The star on the pavement of the square is not only a decorative element, but also a functional one. It marks the exact spot where a spiral staircase leads to the underground Tabularium, which offers a stunning view of the Roman Forum.
• The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is one of the few ancient bronze statues that survived the Middle Ages. It was spared from being melted down because it was mistakenly believed to represent Constantine, the first Christian emperor.
• The façade of the Palazzo Senatorio has a clock and a bell tower that were added in the 17th century. The clock has only one hand, which indicates the hours. The bell, called Campanone, rings every day at noon and on special occasions. It was also used to announce executions, fires, and other emergencies.
• The façade of the Palazzo dei Conservatori has a balcony that was used for public ceremonies and speeches. On the balcony, there are two statues of lions that were brought from Egypt in the 1st century AD. They are made of red granite and have human faces. They are said to represent the twins Castor and Pollux, the protectors of Rome.
• The façade of the Palazzo Nuovo has a niche that contains a statue of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war. The statue is a copy of an ancient Greek original by Phidias, which was located in the Parthenon in Athens. The original was brought to Rome by Emperor Nero and later destroyed by a fire.

Dark Histories

The Piazza del Campidoglio has also been the scene of some dark and tragic events that have marked its history. Here are some examples:

• In 69 AD, during the Year of the Four Emperors, Vitellius, who had usurped the throne from Otho, was captured by the supporters of Vespasian, who had been proclaimed emperor by his troops in Egypt. Vitellius was dragged through the streets of Rome, tortured, killed, and thrown into the Tiber River from the Piazza del Campidoglio.
• In 1143, during a revolt against Pope Innocent II, Pierleoni, a leader of the opposition, barricaded himself in the Palazzo Senatorio with his followers. He was besieged by the papal troops, who set fire to the building. Pierleoni and his men were burned alive or killed by the flames.
• In 1585, Pope Sixtus V ordered the execution of Beatrice Cenci, a young noblewoman who had conspired with her brothers and stepmother to kill her abusive father. She was beheaded in the Piazza del Campidoglio along with her accomplices. Her story inspired many writers and artists, such as Percy Shelley, Stendhal, and Guido Reni.
• In 1798, during the French occupation of Rome, General Duphot was killed by a gunshot in front of the Palazzo dei Conservatori. He was trying to protect his friend Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, who had been attacked by an angry crowd while visiting the Capitoline Museums. The incident provoked a diplomatic crisis between France and the Papal States.
• In 1944, during World War II, a bomb exploded in front of the Palazzo Nuovo, killing 32 people and injuring many others. The bomb was planted by a German commando as a retaliation for an attack by Italian partisans on a German police station. The explosion damaged several artworks in the Capitoline Museums, including some frescoes by Pietro da Cortona.

Architectural Features

The Piazza del Campidoglio is a public square on the top of the ancient Capitoline Hill, between the Roman Forum and the Campus Martius in Rome, Italy. It was designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, at the request of Pope Paul III, who wanted to renovate the area for the visit of Emperor Charles V. The square includes three main buildings: the Palazzo Senatorio, the Palazzo dei Conservatori, and the Palazzo Nuovo, which house the Capitoline Museums, one of the oldest national museums in the world.

The square has a complex spiraling pavement with a star at its center, symbolizing the union of earth and heaven. The pavement also aligns the square with St. Peter's Basilica, the political center of Rome. The square is dominated by a bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, a replica of the original that is preserved in the museum. The statue was placed in the center of the square by Michelangelo, who also redesigned the façades of the three palaces to create a harmonious ensemble.

The Palazzo Senatorio stands on the site of the ancient Tabularium, the records office of ancient Rome. It was built in the 13th century and enlarged in the 14th century. Michelangelo added a monumental staircase and a double ramp to connect it with the lower level of the square. He also modified the façade with Corinthian pilasters and a central clock tower.

The Palazzo dei Conservatori was originally built in the 15th century as the headquarters of the city magistrates. Michelangelo gave it a new façade with Doric pilasters and a triangular pediment. He also added a balcony for public ceremonies and a portico with Corinthian columns to link it with the Palazzo Nuovo.

The Palazzo Nuovo was built by Michelangelo to balance the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the opposite side of the square. It has a similar façade with Ionic pilasters and a triangular pediment. It was completed in the 17th century by Girolamo Rainaldi, who also added a portico with Doric columns to match the one of the Palazzo dei Conservatori.

Iconic Buildings

The Capitoline Museums are located in the two palaces that flank the square: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. They were founded in 1471 by Pope Sixtus IV, who donated some of the most impressive statues from ancient Rome to the city, such as the She-wolf, the Spinario, the Camillus, and the colossal head of emperor Constantine. Over the centuries, the museums' collection has grown to include many of ancient Rome's finest artworks and artifacts, such as the Capitoline Venus, the Dying Gaul, the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, and the Capitoline Brutus.

The museums also display paintings by famous artists such as Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. The museums are connected by an underground gallery that passes under the Piazza del Campidoglio and offers a stunning view of the Roman Forum.

Tips and Recommendations

If you want to visit the Piazza del Campidoglio and its museums, here are some tips and recommendations:

• The square is open 24 hours a day and is free to access. The museums are open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm every day except January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. The admission fee is 15 euros for adults and 13 euros for concessions. You can buy tickets online or at the ticket office on site.
• The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when there are fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures. You can also enjoy a beautiful sunset over Rome from the square.
• You can reach the square by walking from Piazza Venezia or by taking bus number 64 or 40 from Termini station or bus number 87 from Colosseum station. You can also take metro line B to Colosseo station and then walk for about 15 minutes.
• You can spend about two hours exploring the square and its buildings, and another two hours visiting the museums. You can also combine your visit with other nearby attractions, such as the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon.
• You can find some cafes and restaurants around the square, where you can enjoy a coffee, a snack, or a meal. You can also bring your own food and have a picnic on the steps of the Palazzo Senatorio or on the benches of the square.

Conclusion

The Piazza del Campidoglio is one of the most beautiful and historic squares in Rome, where you can admire the genius of Michelangelo and the glory of ancient Rome. It is also a cultural hub, where you can visit one of the oldest and richest museums in the world, and see some of the most iconic sculptures and paintings of all time. It is a must-see for anyone who loves art, history, and architecture.