02-The Monuments of Rome - Turismo Roma Capitale

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Rome for you

Information series on the City of Rome

Produced by: Texts:

Editorial coordination: Graphics and page setting: Translation edit by:

Cosmofilm spa - Elio de Rosa, editore Alberto Tagliaferri, Valerio Variale (Cultural Association Mirabilia Urbis) Emanuela Bosi Marco C. Mastrolorenzi Stephen Geoffrey Wheeler

Photos:

C. De Santis: cover, p. 2, 13 bottom, 17, 35 left; A. Idini: p. 31, 32, 34, 35, 38 top; L. Mozzano: p. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; P. Soriani: p. 14, 27, 28, 36, 37, 38 bottom; Spazio Visivo: p. 3, 9, 10 right, 11, 12, 13 top, 15 bottom, 16, 18, 19 top; Archivio Cosmofilm: p. 10 left, 15 top, 19 bottom. Drawings on p. 8, 20, 29 by P. Pinchera for Mirabilia Urbis

On the cover, Temple of Vespasian in the Roman Forum On this page, Columns of the Temple of Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus

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Walks in Rome

Comune di Roma

Turismo

? The Roman Forum

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1. The west area

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2. The east area

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3. Walking, walking...

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? The Colosseum area

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4. The Arch of Constantine

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5. Walking, walking...

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6. The Flavian Amphitheatre (or Colosseum)

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7. Walking, walking...

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? The Imperial Forums

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8. The Temple (or Forum) of Peace

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9. The Forum of Nerva (or Forum Transitorium)

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10. The Forum of Augustus

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11. Trajan's Forum

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12. Walking, walking...

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The Curia

Monumental Rome

From Via dei Fori Imperiali to the Colosseum

Stampa: GRAFICA PONTINA - Pomezia - ord. n. 12564 del 3-6-09 (c. 10.000)

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A view of the Roman Forum looking towards the Capitoline Hill in an 18th century engraving by G. Vasi. The Forum area had not yet been excavated, and it was used for grazing cattle.

The Colosseum and Arch of Constantine in a 17th century engraving by L. Cruyl. The monuments are viewed for the area of the Temple of Venus and Rome, which was then covered in orchards and vegetable gardens.

Monumental Rome

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Presentation

The Roman academic Silvio Negro maintained that in order to know Rome, a "lifetime was not enough". When faced with a history that is as eventful as Rome's, it is difficult to appraise it even into brick thick guides, still we decided to offer a series of encompassing pocketbook volumes that any curious tourist may carry with them during their visit.

The "Walks in Rome" series offers routes within the city's great web of must-see sites and monuments. Each publication has chosen a guiding theme allowing you to follow a path through, to mention a few, "Monumental Rome" (via dei Fori Imperiali and the Colosseum) or "The Dawning of Christian Rome" (The Basilicas of St. Johns in the Lateran and the Holy Cross in Jerusalem) or even enjoy the most earthly Rome "A virtual film set" (via Veneto and surroundings).

So, even if a lifetime is not enough, you might as well start.

Tourism Office Rome Municipal Council

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Map

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11

10 9

1 8 2

Key

1. The west area of the Roman Forum

2. The east area of the Roman Forum

3. Walking, walking...

4. The Arch of Constantine

5. Walking, walking...

6. The Flavian Amphitheatre (or Colosseum)

7. Walking, walking...

8. The Temple (or Forum) of Peace

9. The Forum of Nerva (or Forum Transitorium)

10. The Forum of Augustus

11. Trajan's Forum

6

12. Walking, walking...

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Map

2

7

3 5

6 4

7

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2nd walk

...the walk begins...

The Roman Forum

The valley in which the Roman Forum came into existence was formed by the Tiber's erosion of the sides of the volcanic lava which constitutes the base of the seven hills. The lower part of this basin, stretching roughly from the central area almost as far as to the river, was occupied by a marsh known as the Velabrum. On the edge of this marsh, at the foot of the Palatine, rose some of Rome's most ancient monuments, such as the Regia, seat of the ancient kings. Towards the end of the 6th century BC, under the Tarquin dynasty, the valley was reclaimed and the waters drained into the Tiber down a sewer, the Cloaca Maxima. The area was now ready for use by the tribes who were already living on the surrounding hills, providing them with a place to meet, exchange goods and carry out the main activities of daily life. Thus the Roman Forum was born, and it was to be the centre stage of Roman history throughout the period of the Republic, right down to the 1st century AD. The Republican build-

ings mirrored changes in the political institutions. First came the great temples of the 5th and 4th centuries, representing the city's extraordinary importance right from the start of its history. Basilicas were constructed from the 3rd century onwards, buildings which served to provide citizens with a covered area for business and assembly as an alternative to open areas. The earliest were the Basilica Porcia and the Basilica Sempronia, later to be substituted by the Basilica Aemilia and the Basilica Julia. The Imperial period, from the reign of Augustus onwards, saw the definitive transformation of the entire area into a monumental square which served a strictly commemorative purpose, adorned in opulent marble but by now deprived of its historic functions.

h

g

f

b

e

d

a

c

The valley of the Roman Forum in the Imperial Age: a) Curia Julia - b) Basilica Aemil-

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ia - c) Basilica Julia - d) Temple of Castor and Pollux - e) Temple of Divus Julius - f)

Temple of Romulus - g) Basilica of Maxentius - h) Temple of Venus and Rome

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