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  The inspiration of Roman squares
"Rome is beautiful, so beautiful that, I swear, everything else seems nothing against her...". Thus Charles de Brosses told of the eternal city in his "Travels in Italy". The same would probably be said by anyone who lets him or herself be enraptured by millenary history-charged inspirations that hover about in every city corner. A story which the splendid Roman squares, a meeting place for millions of tourists every year, can recount and re-evoke in every detail.
Beginning by the historic Piazza del Campidoglio – the heart of Rome today and seat of the city government – on the height of the Colle Capitolino, traditionally the privileged seat of divinity and power: in the sixth century B.C. the temple of Giove Capitolino rose there, the most important of ancient Rome, and, where the church of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli stands now, the temple of Giunone Moneta was erected. The square as a true town planning element only begins in 1538, when Pope Paolo III entrusted its arrangement to Michelangelo. Buonarroti is on the other hand responsible for the design of the two palaces that envelop the square, which are now the seat of the most ancient museums in the world, the Musei Capitolini.
At the feet of the Campidoglio opens up Piazza Venezia, proclaimed Foro d'Italia in 1929, when Palazzo Venezia was the Government headquarters. Walking along a part of via del Corso takes in a short time to Piazza Colonna, thus called for its high marble column of the II century, celebrating the victories of Emperor Marco Aurelio on Germanic populations. Currently the square is the centre of Italian political life, gravitating around Palazzo Chigi, seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Passing in front of Palazzo Montecitorio takes to Piazza della Rotonda, which takes its name from the unmistakeable bulk of the Pantheon, a building from ancient Rome representing a true masterpiece of architecture, today the shrine of the Kings of Italy.
Nearby is Piazza Navona, the most spectacular and unusual square of Baroque Rome. It represents one of the most extraordinary examples of city planning persistence: the original shape of the square retraces faithfully the Domiziano’s ancient stadium’s perimeter, built in 86 A.D. for athletics competitions. The remains of the ancient complex are still visible under a modern building in Piazza di Tor Sanguigna and in the basement of Sant'Agnese in Agone’s church.
One of Rome’s most scenic examples is represented by Piazza di Spagna, a prestigious city planning creation of the Roman 700’s, today the centre of artists’ Rome. It extends along the feet of the Pincio hills and has an irregular base the centre of which is marked by the bizarre fountain designed by Bernini. The flight of steps of Trinità dei monti is spectacular, connecting it to the Pincio and acting as its wonderful background, winding out into a succession of ramps and terraces that expand and narrow to reach the upper square.
Finally, a mention is deserved by Piazza San Pietro, a Bernini masterpiece who built it in the second half of the 1600’s, with the aim of providing a solemn access to the greatest temple of Christianity, the Vatican Basilica.
(Photo: Rome APT)August.2002
Roma Tourist board
Municipality of Rome (In Italian)
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