Although the Capitol is smaller in size than the other six hills of Rome, it can, however, be called the heart of the Eternal City.
According to legend, Romulus decided to build Rome, starting from this hill. Remus chose another hill - the Aventine, but in the heat of an argument his brother killed him and began building from the Capitol. Later the main temples stood here ancient Rome, and then the hill became the center of Christian Rome.
And now the Capitol is still considered the most important hill of Rome: the city hall, one of the most important churches in Rome, the famous Capitoline Museums and other attractions are located here. From here there is a beautiful panorama of the Roman Forums.
Sights of the Capitol: what to see
Stairs Capitol Hill
To explore all the sights of the Capitol in turn, it is most logical to start your walk from Piazza D'Aracoeli, from where two staircases rise to the top of the hill: the one on the right - Cordonata - built by Michelangelo himself, and the one on the left - Scalinata dell" Ara Coeli is not, but it is no less famous because it is believed to bring good luck. True, only in one matter - winning the lottery.
To the left of this miraculous staircase, modest ruins are visible. These ruins can tell a lot about how mere mortals lived in Rome. This is an insula - a condominium in ancient Roman style: a residential building of 5-6 floors, the rooms in which were rented out. At the beginning of our era, Rome was built up with such nondescript high-rise buildings. There were about 50,000 of them.
For the most part, insulas served as housing for low-income citizens. For the sake of economy, they were built from whatever they could find, and besides, fires often occurred in them, which is why almost all of them were made of insula. ancient Rome have not survived to this day. Insula dell'Ara Coeli at the foot of the Capitol is an exception. This communal apartment was built in the 2nd century AD; about 400 people lived in it.
Temples of the Capitol
Having passed the remains of an antique high-rise building, the Scalinata dell "Ara Coeli staircase leads to the facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli (Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli). The place where it was built in the 9th century is significant: before the Christian era, there was a temple of Juno Moneta, a goddess highly revered by the Romans. It is no coincidence that banknotes began to be named after her: they were minted at this temple. Also, geese were kept on the territory of this temple - they were sacrificed to Juno. These geese warned the commandant of the Capitoline fortress about the Gauls who surrounded the hill at night.
One can only guess what the Temple of Juno looked like - only part of the foundation remains from it. But now here is the church of Santa Maria in Araceli, in which there is something to see: firstly, magnificent frescoes, statues and mosaics by medieval masters, and secondly, tombstones by Michelangelo. Pilgrims visit this church not so much for the works of art, but for the ancient Christian shrines: the relics of St. Helena and the miraculous icon of the Madonna, which, according to legend, protected Rome from the plague in the 14th century.
Capitoline Square and its palaces
To the right of the church is the Capitoline Square (Piazza del Campidoglio). To get to it, you need to go down the stairs and go back up another one - the one that Michelangelo made. Interestingly, this architect did not build any of the buildings on this square, but it is thanks to him that it looks the way it does. The fact is that Pope Paul III did not like the view Capitol Square, she looked painfully undignified. He entrusted the reconstruction to Michelangelo. He added a monumental staircase to the Palace of Senators (Palazzo Senatorio), which made the building look more dignified and became the center of the architectural ensemble of the entire square.
As part of the reconstruction project, the eminent architect also decorated the facade of another building with pilasters - the Palace of the Conservators (Palazzo dei Conservatori). Now it houses the Capitoline Museum, but in the time of Michelangelo the judges sat. Opposite the court, it was decided to build the first public museum in Rome. The architect insisted that it have the same facade as the palace of judges, then they would look symmetrical. The “double” was built, but after the death of the master. It was called the New Palace (Palazzo Nuovo). As planned, this building houses a museum. It is definitely worth a visit, as is the Capitoline Museum, they are both very fascinating.
Capitoline Square statues
In the middle of the Capitoline Square stands the monument to Marcus Aurelius. It was not created by Michelangelo, but it was he who decided to install it here. Although in theory he should not have done this - Paul III certainly would not have approved of the installation of a statue of a pagan emperor near a Christian church. But there was an embarrassment: for some reason everyone decided that the rider on the horse was Emperor Constantine the Great, whom Catholics greatly respect, because it was he who established Christianity. They learned later that the monument was dedicated to the wrong emperor, but decided not to change anything.
An interesting detail: the statue of Marcus Aurelius that stands in the center of the square is not original. They replaced it with a real copper one, which was greatly spoiled by rain and pigeon droppings. They decided to keep the original, because this is the only bronze equestrian statue that has survived from ancient times (made in the 2nd century AD). It is now kept in the Capitoline Museum. Another monument has a similar story - the statue of the she-wolf who fed Romulus and Remus.
It once adorned the façade of the Palace of the Conservatives, but after Michelangelo’s reconstruction it was moved to the museum for safekeeping, and a cage with a live wolf was placed in the square. Today, it is replaced by a modern copy of the original statue.
The most ancient part of the Capitol
There are two streets running off to the right and left of the Palace of Senators on the Capitoline Square. If you go to the right, along via del Campidoglio, you can reach the ruins of the Tabularium, the city archive built in the 1st century BC. There is little left of it - part of the facade and underground galleries. The rest was first destroyed and then built up. If you go left from the Palace of Senators, along via di San Pietro in Carcere, you will first meet Observation deck overlooking the Forum and then the Mamertine Prison (Carcere Mamertino).
This is the oldest surviving building on Capitol Hill; it was built back in IV BC. It is believed that the apostles Peter and Paul were kept in bonds in this dungeon before their execution. In memory of this, an altar was installed in the dungeon. The Mamertine prison is the edge of the Capitol, behind it is the Forum.
Useful for tourists
You can walk around the Capitol without delving into the history of its buildings in half an hour. An excursion with a competent guide will take longer, but will be much more eventful - there are a lot of interesting things in this place, each stone has its own legend. Walking around Capitol Hill is free, you only need to pay for visiting the museums. They operate from 9:30 to 19:30, a single day ticket costs 15 €, and for 16 € you can buy a ticket for a week. This is convenient because... It’s difficult to cover everything at once. For visiting the Mamertine prison they ask for a donation in the amount of “as much as you don’t mind”, and admission to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli is free. It is open from 8:00 to 19:00, but there are services in the morning, so it is better to visit it after lunch.
If you plan to combine a tour of the Capitol with the Forum, then it is better to start with the latter - it is located on the way from the Colosseo metro station. You can do it differently: first the Capitol, and then go down to the Forum. Then you need to move from Piazza D'Aracoeli.
Rome is a city where, by visiting, a person will be able to come into contact with time. It was built a long time ago, and on its territory there are preserved places created more than two thousand years ago. One of them is the Capitol. The architectural ensemble located on this hill is the most popular attraction. Read the article about the history of the Capitol, how to get there, and its significance.
What is this?
It is believed that the hill owes its name to the temple of the same name located on it. The exact lexical meaning of the word Capitol has not yet been established. A number of art critics believe that it carries the following meaning: head, something important, the main thing, life or person.
The Capitol in Rome is called Capitoline Hill. This hill is the lowest in the city. At the same time, it is the center of culture and politics in Rome, and is also visited by thousands of tourists every year. A large number of architectural monuments preserved from antiquity are concentrated here.
Hill
The Capitoline ensemble in Rome is located on one of the hills, of which there are seven in the city. Each of them has its own name: Caelium, Palatine, Quirinal, Aventine, Viminal, Esquiline and Capitoline.
Since ancient times, all kinds of temples dedicated to the gods have risen on the last hill. The geese that lived in the temple of Juno Moneta warned the Romans that the Gauls were preparing to attack them. The first courtyard was built here, where money was minted. They began to be called coins in honor of the wife of Jupiter. The Seven Hills are known throughout the world. The Capitol is famous for the fact that a large number of signs took place here. In addition, this place is considered sacred. All kinds of churches and basilicas are still located here.
There is no traveler in the world who does not know that at the base of Rome lie seven hills. However, few people understand that it was the Capitol that became the hill where the city was born. Since antiquity, this hill has been the political center of Rome. Previously, emperors ruled here, and currently the mayor of the city and the municipality work here.
The Capitol is a low hill. It overlooks the Roman Forum. Its height is measured at forty-six meters.
Temple
The Capitol in Rome is not just a hill. One of the most important temples in the city bears the same name. It is the first religious building built on this hill. It is dedicated to the so-called Capitoline Triad, which includes Minerva, Jupiter and Juno Moneta. Since ancient times, it consisted of three parts dedicated to a specific god or goddess. The center was dedicated to Jupiter, the right side to Minerva, and the left side to Juno. In each of the parts there was an altar.
Here they not only worshiped deities, but also minted coins and held councils. The temple housed an archive. This architectural monument forever remained a symbol of the power, strength, and immortality of Rome.
This building has centuries-old history. It was once the center of the city, but then it lost its significance. In the fifth century it was sacked during the capture of Rome. It is believed that then the ensemble lost not only a number of religious objects, but also several gold bars, which, according to legend, were kept under the throne of Jupiter, in a specially created niche. The Capitoline Temple, or was destroyed by time in the sixth century AD. Archaeologists have made every effort to restore it. Thanks to their efforts, part of the foundation and a small fragment of the wall were reconstructed. They can be seen in one of the halls of the Palazzo Conservatori.
Story
The Capitol in Rome became the religious and political center of that city immediately after it was founded. The fact is that it was easier to defend Rome on a hill than in a lowland. It served the Romans for a long time, the top of the hill was never empty. After the temple of the same name was destroyed, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli appeared nearby. It was located in the center of the hill. It not only served as a church, it hosted meetings of the people.
Not far from the foot of Aracheli there are ruins. They belong to an ancient building - an insula, which served as something like a modern hotel. Since the first century, Rome was massively built up with similar buildings. At the same time, those people who did not have a lot of money lived on the upper floors, and wealthy citizens who managed to pay for housing settled on the first floors and received some amenities at their disposal. For example, sewerage and water supply.
Until the sixteenth century, the buildings of the Capitoline ensemble were not restored, so many of them were in deplorable condition. However, when the Roman Emperor Habsburg decided to visit the city, Paul the Third became preoccupied with the view of Rome. The work on the restoration of the square, around which all the buildings were built, was entrusted to Michelangelo in 1536. Unfortunately, he did not have time to complete the work, and most of it was carried out according to his ideas under the guidance of the Italian architect, sculptor Giacomo Della Porta, as well as other students of Buonarroti. The Capitol was preserved as it was made by the works of these people by the end of 1654.
Attractions
The Capitol in Rome attracts travelers with its attractions, including:
- Cardonata staircase. This is one of three stairs that can be used to reach the higher ground.
- Capitol Square. It is located at the top of the hill, being its center. Others were built along its perimeter
- The equestrian statue of the emperor, in turn, rises in the middle of the square.
- The symbol of the city is the She-Wolf, symbolizing justice. Previously, it was located on the street, not far from the entrance to the Palazzo Conservatori, however, it was moved inside the building. Before this statue was found, there was a cage with a live wolf in the Capitol.
- Palace of Senators. For some time, this architectural monument served as a storage facility, however, now the City Hall of Rome is located within its walls. It is because of this that you cannot get into all rooms.
- The Palace of the Conservatives got its name because it once hosted meetings of senators and judges. They were just called conservationists. Now the building serves as a museum where you can find busts and frescoes. The Pinakothek is also famous, where paintings by the greatest artists are exhibited.
- Palazzo Nuovo is the youngest architectural monument of the ensemble. It exactly reproduces the Palace of the Conservatives. Antique sculptures are kept here.
- The Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli is built on the site where the Temple of Juno Moneta once stood. A miraculous sculpture of Jesus as a child is kept here.
Cultural wealth
The Capitol in Rome is not only a religious, political, but also a cultural center ancient city. It houses a number of museums, each of which is worthy of attention.
Within the walls of the Palace of Senators, built in the first century BC, there is a museum-repository of stone slabs, the inscriptions on which tell about Ancient Rome. From them you can learn how life was led here and what the policies of the rulers were.
The Palace of the Conservatives houses a museum of marble busts created in Ancient Rome. In addition, here you can view the frescoes and visit the Pinakothek. This gallery exhibits paintings by such outstanding artists as Rubens, Velazquez and Caravaggio. All sorts of artifacts can be found in the Castellani Hall, and rich collections of coins and jewelry can be found in the Coins.
Palazzo Nuovo was built to become a museum. And so it happened: here there are not only Roman sculptures, but also Greek ones.
Excursions
Rome is the eternal city, always open to everyone. Therefore, a large number of different excursions are held here. Most Popular tourist place, also the heart of the city is the Capitol in Rome. How to get to this place? Easily. This can be done either independently or with a group. However, it is important to understand that Rome is quite Big City, and you can get lost in it, staring at the masterpieces of architecture.
Almost all tourists who visited eternal city, visit the Capitol ensemble. Many of its member museums operate on the same schedule. For example, you can get to places such as Palazzo Nuovo, the Palace of the Conservatives and the Palace of Senators on any day except Monday, from nine o’clock in the morning to eight o’clock in the evening.
How to get there?
There are different ways to get to the Capitol. You can get to the hill by taking the metro line B train. In addition, Rome has an extensive bus system, the routes of which also pass through the hills. You can also call a taxi and get to the Capitol by car.
Hiking is available to everyone. You can climb the Capitoline Hill in Rome using three staircases. The left one leads to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli. The central one was designed by Michelangelo and is considered the main staircase of the entire ensemble. The right one is quite inconspicuous; as a rule, townspeople use it. Therefore, if tourists want to climb the hill in the shade without getting into the crowd, they can use it.
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The lowest of the seven legendary Roman hills and small in area, it has always had a special status.
In the times of Romulus and Remus, it was an inaccessible cliff with two peaks and a valley between them, protected on all sides by steep cliffs. It was possible to climb it only from the side of the Forum.
On the hill rose a huge Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, dedicated to the divine triad - Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.
Its construction began under Tarquinius Proud at the end of the 6th century BC, but ended only in the first years of the republic in 509 BC. The temple stood on a high foundation and had the shape of a quadrangle.
In 83 BC. the temple of Jupiter was set on fire and burned to the ground with all its riches. Caesar restored the temple. But fires plagued the religious building; it burned and was rebuilt several times.
The temple was particularly splendid under Domitian; even the tiles on the roof were made of gilded bronze.
During the time of the Christian emperors, the temple began to collapse, it was constantly robbed and, in the end, not a trace remained of the magnificent building.
Nearby was the temple of Juno Moneta. Nickname Coin (from the verb “moneo” - to warn) appeared after the warning of the goddess Juno to the Romans during the war with Taranto (272 century BC). The sacred geese of Juno warned the Romans about the impending attack of the Gauls.
There was a mint next to the temple. By the way, the metal money minted at the mint at the Temple of Juno Coins began to be called coins, first in Rome, and later in other countries.
Now you can climb the hill using three stairs: the left one (122 steps) rises steeply to Church of Santa Maria in Araceli; the central one, wide and sloping, with a border, is the work of Michelangelo; on the right there is another inconspicuous staircase and a road.
In the 16th century, the Capitoline Hill was rebuilt according to Michelangelo's design.
Among other things, he designed a staircase made of white marble that connected Piazza Araceli with the hill on which the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo are located, the façade of the Palace of Senators overlooks and the Capitoline Square is laid out.
Michelangelo was a master of his craft and had a great command of space. Thanks to an optical illusion, he managed to expand a small area by creating a staircase with the feeling of an endless climb and using reverse perspective. In 1940, the square was paved with a unique star-shaped design, which further enlarged the space.
In 1583, during excavations of the Theater of Pompey, sculptures of Egyptian lions and equestrian statues of the Dioscuri - the legendary twins Castor and Pollux, born of the beautiful Leda from Zeus, who took the form of a swan - were found and placed at the base of the stairs. Gemini is considered the patron saint of horses and is always depicted with them.
Nearby, along the balustrade, are Mario's Trophies: statues of Constantine and Constantius II, two milestones from the Appian Way.
To the side of the Capitoline Stairs is the statue of Cola di Rienza, which was placed here in the 19th century. at the place where he was killed.
Cola di Rienzo (Cola di Rienzo)(real name Nicola di Lorenzo Gabrini, Gabrini) (1313-1354) was an Italian politician, he led the uprising of the trade and craft classes - the popolani in Rome in 1347, which led to the establishment of the Roman Republic in May 1347 (existed until December 1347) and August .
Statue of Cola di Rienza
In the center of Capitol Hill rises a bronze equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
It was created in 176 by an unknown sculptor; the statue survived during the destruction of pagan idols due to the fact that it was mistaken for the image of Constantine.
In the 8th century it was installed in Laterano, and in 1538 it was moved to the Capitol by order of Pope Paul III.
Since 2005, the statue has been replaced by a copy; the original is kept in the Capitoline Museum, located on the square.
Statue of Marcus Aurelius
Piazza del Campidogli, 1 www.museicapitolini.org
Closed Jan 1, Dec 25, Jan 1, May 1. 9.00-20.00
Facade Palace of Senators It is decorated with an elegant double staircase, in a niche there is a statue of Minerva, and a fountain is installed in front of the statue. On either side of Minerva are giant figures symbolizing the Nile and the Tiber, which were transferred here from the baths of Constantine at the Quirinal.
The palace is crowned by a 35-meter-high bell tower, built in 1580.
On the reverse side, the Palace of Senators has a common wall with Tabularia.
Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, made of red brick, is one of the first Christian churches built on the ruins of the pagan temple of Juno Moneta.
According to legend, the basilica houses the oldest Christian altar in the world, which existed even before the birth of Christ. How is this possible?
The legend tells of a vision of the Holy Virgin with a baby in her arms by Emperor Augustus. Augustus fell to his knees in awe, he was very amazed by the image that appeared and built an altar in his room, calling it "Ara Coeli", i.e. Altar of Heaven.
Confirmation of this legend can be found in the basilica - on the third column on the left there is an inscription "A cubiculo Augustorum" (August's Bedchamber).
In the 8th century a monastery was built on this site, which in 944 became the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Capitolio. In the 12th century. Lorenzo Iapoco Cosmati installed an ambo in the church - a structure for reading the Holy Scriptures. In 1249 the church began to belong to the Franciscans and by the end of the 13th century. a new basilica was erected. And in 1348 a staircase leading to the church was built.
The interior of the basilica consists of three naves separated by white marble columns. In the main altar there is an image of the Madonna and Child (10th century)
The church houses a wooden sculpture of the Holy Child (XV century)
The ancient street Silver Slope (CLIVUS ARGENTARIUS) leads from the Capitol to the Forum of Caesar. It got its name from the silver workshops that were located along the street in the Middle Ages.
On Capitol Hill the oldest prison is located Rome - Mamertine (or Tulian - Tullianum). The Tullianum prison was built during the time of the 4th Roman king Ancus Marcius in the 7th century. BC. But it most likely received its name from the 6th king Servius Tullia (according to another version, from the 3rd king Tulla Hostilius).
In the 8th century the prison began to be called Mamertine.
The prison had two levels: an above-ground and an underground grotto.
In the 16th century was built over the prison Church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami.
Many famous personalities were prisoners of the Mamertine prison. According to legend, Saint Peter languished in this prison, hence another name - San Pietro in Carcere.
Now there is a museum here. (open 9.00-19.00, session every 20 minutes, visit duration 40 minutes, ticket 10 euros)
Rome is located on seven hills. The smallest in size and height, but the most significant in historical and artistic value is called Capitoline. Every tourist tries to visit this place to see with his own eyes the place where the Eternal City arose.
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Rome has many beautiful and unique places: cathedrals, monuments to famous personalities, fountains and palaces. The most impressive is Capitol Hill; its historical and cultural values leave no one indifferent. According to legend, 2.5 thousand years ago Romulus (one of the founding brothers of Rome), standing on the top of a hill, saw eagles soaring in the sky. Near this place he decided to found a city. Historians have not reached a consensus on the origin of the name of the hills. There are two versions, according to one it bears the name of Jupiter Capitolinus, whose temple stood long before the appearance of Romulus. Here was the sanctuary of the Sabine tribes; they erected a temple to Jupiter and prayed to him, making sacrifices.
The second version is from the word “kaput” (translated as head), since the Senate was located on the hill, where the most eminent and noble dignitaries of that time sat. In ancient times, a temple to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva was built on Capitol Hill; there were always a lot of people in the square; the Senate met here, important issues were decided, and trials were held. The building of the Mamertine prison, which also stands on the hill, has still been preserved. It is already more than 2700 years old. According to some sources, the date of construction dates back to the 6th century, according to others, it was built in the 4th century BC. Initially, it was a two-level building; in its dungeon, both important dignitaries and ordinary citizens languished in anticipation of the execution of the sentence.
According to legend, the apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned in this prison before their execution. When the prison in XYI ceased to function, an altar was installed in the dungeon, and pilgrims still come here to worship. Subsequently, the Church of Joseph the Carpenter was erected above the dungeon. In ancient times, on the territory of the Capitol there were streets with trading stalls and shops where artisans sold their products. Some have survived to this day, for example, Silver, where, according to the name, silver products were sold.
At the foot of the Aricheli Temple there are ancient buildings - insulas, in fact, this is an apartment hostel, in the image of which they began to settle modern hotels and hotels. First multi-story houses appeared in the 3rd century BC, and the massive construction of “communal apartments” in Rome began in the 1st century. Insulas were rented, and the lower the floor, the more expensive the cost of living and the more wealthy people settled in it. There were even sewerage and running water on the first floors. Houses were located close to each other, so entire neighborhoods were often destroyed by fires. They quickly collapsed because they were built in violation of the rules and fell into disrepair, but such “apartments” were not cheap.
Michelangelo and the Renaissance of the Capitol
The ancient buildings required restoration; Pope Paul III commissioned this work to be carried out by the famous sculptor and architect Michelangelo. Michelangelo (6 March 1475 - 18 February 1564) designed many buildings, including St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. From the late thirties, he began to refurbish the Capitoline Square. Unfortunately, Michelangelo died before completing the construction; this was done by his students and followers.
Capitol Square is considered unique in its beauty and harmony - in its central part of the square is the Palace of Senators. On one side of it the Palazzo Nuovo was erected, on the other - the Palace of the Conservatives, they were built according to the same design, so they are exactly the same. They now house museums displaying paintings by old masters, clothing from different eras, dishes, coins and figurines.
In the center of the square there is a sculpture of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher. This is a copy of an antique statue. On one side of the square you can go down an ancient staircase, which is decorated with statues of Egyptian lions and sculptures of marble twins - Pollux and Castor. They were discovered in Pompeii and transported to the capital of Italy in the XYI century. Below are statues of Constantine and Constantine II, sculptures from an ancient fountain and mileposts from the Allian Way.
Palace of Senators
The most remarkable building is the Palace of Senators, built in the first century BC. the architect Cornelius. The Palace initially housed an archive for a long time; in the Middle Ages it was empty and gradually collapsed. The revival of the palace began in the thirties of the XYI century, when Pontiff Paul III entrusted Michelangelo with the reconstruction of the buildings and the arrangement of the square, which was called Piazza del Campidolio. According to the architect's plan, the dominant and most majestic building was supposed to be the central building - the Palace of Senators. Since 1871, the palace has been the residence of the mayor, so most of the premises are closed to tourists. You can visit the Lapidarium, where antique stone slabs with inscriptions are exhibited. Downstairs, in the old part, you can see the archive - the Tabularium.
Palace of Conservatives
The first building of the Palace of the Conservatives was erected under Pontiff Nicholas Y in the second quarter of the 19th century. Literally translated, the word means “Palace of Guardians.” Senators, masters and judges, who were called conservatives, sat in this room, which gave the name to the building. All power was concentrated in the hands of these people. But over time, papal power increased and the importance of the city decreased significantly, the treasury was depleted, which led to the desolation and dilapidation of the building. In the middle of the XYI century, the palace, like the whole architectural ensemble square, was reconstructed by Michelangelo.
Now the building houses museums, the first exhibits belonged to Pope Sixtus IY; in 1471, he donated antique sculptures made of bronze, including the sculpture of the legendary “Capitolian She-Wolf”, who, according to legend, suckled Ram and Romulus. In the central hall, richly painted with frescoes, marble ancient Roman busts are exhibited. On the second floor there is a gallery (Pinakothek). It presents works by Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Tintoretto and other famous artists. The Castellana Hall exhibits ancient Greek and Etruscan objects, as well as jewelry.
Palace Nuovo
Palazzo Nuevo ( New Palace), as the name suggests, is the newest building, erected in the XYII century. As Michelangelo Buonarotti intended, it was a copy of the Palace of the Conservatives. It was originally built as a public museum and was opened to the public in 1734. Nowadays, part of the Capitoline Museums is located in the palace. Visitors can see sculptures, vases brought from Greece, paintings by artists, and ancient mosaics. In the courtyard there are parts of buildings and fragments of the statue of Constantine - a hand, a foot, a head.
In the modern part of the building there is an original bronze sculpture of Marcus Aurelius - a unique exhibit of this kind, preserved from ancient times. A beautiful Scalone staircase leads to the second floor of the palazzo; it is richly decorated with relief paintings of ancient subjects and inlaid with marble.
Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli
The Church of the Holy Virgin Mary was founded in the 13th century. The Capitol is a hill with two low peaks, on the smaller of which the church is built. According to ancient legends, a temple to Jupiter, his wife and daughter Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, was erected on this peak. Then she had her own palace - the Temple of Juno-Moneta, and it was on this site that the Church of the Virgin Mary was subsequently erected.
Historians do not have accurate information about the first buildings. They rely on medieval legends who say: when Emperor Augustus reigned, the senators decided to build a church in his honor. The emperor wanted to ask the gods whether it was worth doing this and went to the hill, wanting to sacrifice pigeons to them.
On the way he met the Sibyl, a soothsayer. She exclaimed that she saw the birth of God; soon they would only pray to him. The Emperor installed the Heavenly Altar where the sorceress had a vision. Then the church of Santa Maria in Araceli arose here; the first documentary mention of it dates back to the first quarter of the 14th century. A Greek monastery was built in the 6th century, then in the 9th century the Benedictines built a Catholic church. In the 13th century, it passed to the Franciscan Order, and they carried out significant reconstruction of the building. In the Middle Ages, people not only prayed here, but meetings of the people were held - they proclaimed laws and resolved economic issues.
In 1347, Cola di Rienzo, a politician, took power in Rome and ordered the construction of a grand staircase that led from the base of the hill to the entrance of the church. In 1464, the basilica was restored again, in the middle of the 18th century a sacristy and a bell tower were added to it, in 1565 a choir was erected, and in 1575 a beautiful carved ceiling was made in honor of the victory of the Italian fleet over the Turkish. Nowadays, the cathedral is open to believers and tourists who want to admire the beautiful interior design of the basilica.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The palaces that are part of the museum are open at the same time and can be visited by purchasing one ticket:
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 20:00. Closed on Monday.
Ticket prices: comprehensive – 15 euros, reduced – 13 euros.
Capitol Hill is a historical and significant place. The two famous staircases, the Capitoline Square with its palaces, fountain and monuments, the revered Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli - all this is located here. And, of course, great views to the Forum and surrounding area.
In ancient times (IV century BC), the Capitoline Temple stood here, in honor of the three main Roman gods: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. It was also simply called the Capitol. The Senate sat in it and public assemblies took place. The fall of the Roman Empire led to the ruin and decline of the Capitoline Temple. Many buildings on the hill were looted or burned, others were rebuilt. In the 5th century, goats were even grazed here.
Thanks to the visit Spanish king Charles V, the Capitoline Hill was rebuilt in 1536 by order of Pope Paul III. Develop new project entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarroti. The master did not have time to fully implement his plan. His students continued the work. In 1654, the square acquired its final form, which has survived to this day.
Sights of Capitol Hill
Stairs
Today you can climb the hill using 3 stairs. The wide Cordonata is located in the center and leads to the Capitoline Square. From below it is “guarded” by marble Egyptian lions, and at the top - 2 large statues sons of Zeus, Pollux and Castor. Halfway along the route, to the side of the balustrade, stands a bronze figure on a brick pedestal wearing a cloak with a hood covering his face and holding a staff. This is a statue of the people's tribune Cola di Rienzo. Along the balustrade are statues of Emperor Constantine and his son, sculptures from the Mario Trophies fountain and milestones from the Appian Way.
The steep staircase to the left (as seen from below) of the central one of 124 steps was created according to the design of Lorenzo Simone di Andreozzo in the 14th century. It leads to the Church of Santa Maria in Aracheli. There is an amazing belief associated with this route - it is believed that if you walk it completely on your knees and climb this way all the way to the church, you will certainly win the lottery.
And if you move a little to the right from Cordonata, you will see an inconspicuous gentle staircase. Local residents use it.
At the top there is a powerful monument to Marcus Aurelius in the center - the work of an unknown sculptor, which dates back to the 2nd century AD. In the 16th century, on the instructions of the Pope, this equestrian statue was installed in the square, contrary to the will of Michelangelo, who did not include it in his architectural ensemble.
Near the palace there is the legendary Lupa Capitolina - Capitoline She-Wolf (a copy of the sculpture, the original is placed in). The City Hall of Rome is located in the Palace of Senators.
On both sides of the square we see the same majestic facades. These are palaces and which house the Capitoline Museums.
Cafarelli Palace
The Cafarelli Palace (Palazzo Caffarelli) (XVI century) occupies the most high place on the Capitol. Today it refers to Capitoline Museums, and it houses an exhibition of coins, ancient frescoes and the Santarelli collection. The palace was built on the site of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Once upon a time, all the valuables of the world, obtained by Roman legionaries, were stored here. War trophies were presented as gifts to Jupiter the Greatest. Generals came here on a golden chariot. They laid golden wreaths at the cult statue of Jupiter. In the courtyard of the current building, in a pavilion behind glass, brickwork is visible - this is all that remains of the great structure. Below, on the site (entry to tourists is unfortunately prohibited), fragments of columns, several sculptures and the remains of reliefs that once adorned the Capitoline Temple are visible.
Basilica of the Virgin Mary
Insula Aracheli, photo Lalupa
On the Capitol, all that remains of the ancient buildings is the Insula (2nd century AD) - an ancient Roman high-rise building where apartments were rented out. Its ruins are located next to the stairs leading to the basilica, at the foot of the hill.
Mamertine prison
The prison premises and the altar in honor of the apostles, photo Chris 73
Mamertine Prison (Carcere Mamertino) (VI-IV centuries BC) - a prison of ancient Rome, a 2-story underground structure in the northern part of the hill, where criminals awaited execution. According to legend, this is where they spent their last days Apostle Paul and Peter. A small altar with frescoes of saints was installed in the dungeon. In the 4th century, the prison was closed, and pilgrims flocked here to venerate the saints. And in the 16th century, the Church of St. Joseph Plotnik. Today, entrance to the dungeons of the former prison is free and free.
How to get there
The Capitoline Hill can be reached on foot in 10-20 minutes from the Colosseum, Roman Forum or Venetian Square;
take metro line B to Colosseo station;
by bus 30, 51, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 130F, 160, 170, 628, C3, No. 9 - to the Ara Coeli-Piazza Venezia stop;
take tram 8 to the Venezia stop.
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