What is the Capitol in ancient Rome? The Capitoline Square in Rome is the secret meaning of Michelangelo's project. Capitol Hill: the center of tourism

Capitoline Hill (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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According to legend, the Capitoline Hill is one of the seven hills on which the Eternal City of Rome arose. Few people know that this most important and significant hill, it turns out, is also the lowest and smallest in area.

Today the Capitol is the center of Rome. And although neither the Temple of Jupiter nor the Temple of Minerva has been here for a long time, the flow of tourists does not dry up for a single day. Almost everything that a contemporary sees was created by the greatest artist and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti. Following his brilliant plan, the master created the Capitoline Square, rebuilt the façade of the Palace of Senators, and designed the famous Cordonata staircase made of white marble, which all travelers who find themselves in Rome dream of climbing.

Anyone can visit Capitol Hill completely free of charge. True, you will have to pay to visit the museums and temples located here. There is no time limit for visiting the hill. But it is advisable to get here during daylight hours in order to better see all the splendor of the Capitol: see with your own eyes a copy of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, Egyptian lions standing at the foot of the stairs, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli.

How to find: Piazza Aracoeli, near the southern bank of the Tiber, northwest of the Palatine Hill, above the valley

Once upon a time, it was from this place that Romulus saw his dozen kites, the local geese warned the townspeople about the invasion of the Gauls, and Augustus had a vision of the birth of the Savior. But what the Romans today proudly call the “Capitol” appeared much later. And they have one “Renaissance man” to thank for this.

Rarely does a traveler not know that “eternal” Rome stands on seven hills. But not everyone knows that it was founded on the smallest of the “hillocks”. So fate decided: the dispute between Remus and Romulus about the site of the founding of the citadel was decided in favor of the latter. And all only because the birds he saw turned out to be twice as many as his brother. The Capitol is the lowest of the seven hills. It rises northwest of the Palatine Hill next to the southern bank of the Tiber directly above and reaches 46 meters in height.

Capitol. Pages of history

Although people chose the Capitol long before the founding of Rome, it became the center of political, social and religious life precisely after that. It was much easier to defend a settlement on a hill than in a lowland. Moreover, it was only possible to climb the rather steep slopes of the hill from one side. But the city grew, and soon people inhabited not only the slopes, but also the nearby plains. During antiquity, the oldest Capitoline Temple, dedicated to the Capitoline Triad: Minerva, Jupiter and Juno Moneta. Moreover, it was erected on the site of the so-called old Capitol, the sanctuary of the Sabines, moved here from the Quirinale hill. The consecration of the new temple took place in 509 BC. e., and it played the role of the religious center of republican and imperial Rome until the 6th century. True, not in the form in which it was originally built. In the 60s BC. e. Quintus Lutatius Catulus rebuilt the sanctuary that had burned down two decades ago.

The Capitoline Temple was divided into three sections: the central one was dedicated to Jupiter, the right one to Minerva, and the left one to Juno. Each deity had his own altar here, and the roof of the building was decorated with a terracotta Jupiter on a quadriga. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the Capitoline Temple, and with it the entire Capitol, for the ancient Romans. Magistrates made their sacrifices here, coins were minted, the Senate met, and even the archives were kept. For many generations of Romans, this temple symbolized the power, strength and immortality of the city founded by Romulus.

The collapse of the empire led to the desolation and destruction of the ancient temple. But the place on the top of the hill was never empty. At the first opportunity, Greek monks built a monastery here, but already in IX they were replaced by Franciscans, who built a new Catholic church from ancient ruins. It was Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli. Due to its central location, the church quickly became one of the most popular places in Rome. During the Middle Ages, it hosted public meetings. And it was from its platform that, according to legend, the people of Cola di Rienza rose up in rebellion against the barons. True, the legend also has “inconsistencies”: the staircase with 122 steps from the top platform of which he allegedly gave his fiery speech was built about a year later.

There is another belief associated with the stairs. Those who want to hit the jackpot in the lottery at midnight must climb it on their knees, offering prayers to the Virgin Mary and counting all the objects they see. It is easy to understand how difficult this task is; just climb the stairs during the day in the traditional way. But it’s worth doing, if only for the sake of Pinturicchio’s painting “The Life of Saint Bernardine of Siena” stored in the first right chapel, frescoes by Pomarancio, a gilded carved ceiling, a mosaic with a Madonna of the 13th century and a wooden figurine of the baby Jesus healing all diseases.

A rare traveler notices the ruins at the foot of Aracheli. This is all that remains of the ancient insulins, is the prototype of a modern hotel. Rome was massively built with such multi-storey buildings in the 1st century, although the first buildings appeared in the 3rd century BC. e. Apartments in insulas were rented, with the upper floors usually occupied by the poor, and wealthy citizens living in the more comfortable lower rooms. Of course, ancient comfort is a relative concept, but there was still sewerage and water supply on the first floors. Most of the rooms had poor lighting and were not heated; due to violations of building codes, apartments often collapsed on the guests' heads, and due to wooden ceilings and small distances between houses, fires sometimes destroyed entire neighborhoods. With all this, the capital's insula owners did not hesitate to charge a considerable fee for their “apartments,” while in the provinces the living conditions were better and the owners’ requests were more modest.

On the other side of the hill, the ascent to Capitol Square begins. It is this that modern Romans proudly call the Capitol. In the Middle Ages, the top of the Capitoline Hill was occupied by palaces in which rulers met. In 1536, the last officially crowned Roman Emperor, Charles V of Habsburg, was planning to visit Rome, and Pope Paul III commissioned Michelangelo to restore the square on the top of the hill.

Michelangelo and the Capitol

By and large, in the late 30s of the 16th century, Michelangelo did nothing but design various buildings, including even in Rome. Unfortunately, the grandiose secular and spiritual center of the Eternal City, founded in 1536, which was supposed to connect new Rome with the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, was never completed during the life of the great master. By and large, all the work planned by Michelangelo was carried out from 1540 to 1580, and this happened under the leadership of Giacomo della Porta.

In full accordance with the architectural design of Buonarroti, the square at the top of the Capitoline Hill took the shape of a trapezoid, framed by buildings on three sides. It dominates the Capitoline Square, being its vertical axis, Palace of Senators. This palazzo was almost completed during the master’s lifetime. It has columns stretching over two tiers, pilasters on the ground floor and flights of stairs diverging in different directions. Nearby is a copy of the monument to the legendary she-wolf. The mayor's office still meets in this palace.

On the sides of the square there are two more palaces - Palace of the Conservatives And New Palace. Their identical facades are also Michelangelo’s design. They can be distinguished from one another by the remains of a colossal statue of Emperor Constantine, kept in the courtyard of the Palazzo Conservatori. Palazzo Nuovo was built from the very beginning as a museum to house an art collection open to the general public. True, over time, the collection “absorbed” all the nearby buildings: the Palace of the Conservatives was given over to painting, the Cafarelli Palace, facing the city, hosts temporary exhibitions, and the former Tabularium serves as an underground corridor between the New Palace and the Palace of the Conservatives. Having placed the palaces at oblique angles, Michelangelo inscribed an oval into the rectangle of the square, in the center of which he installed an equestrian statue of 161–180, depicting Marcus Aurelius.

The last creation of the great artist was a wide road descending towards residential areas. Cordonata staircase, at the base of which there are two ancient Egyptian lions made of marble. In 1583, statues of the Dioscuri, found during excavations of the theater of Pompeii, appeared on the top of the Cordonata. And along the balustrade there were statues of Constantine, Constantine II and the so-called Trophies of Mario (two high-relief images in marble).

Nowadays, Michelangelo's Capitoline Square is one of the most holistic and harmonious squares in the capital. The artist not only demonstrated an excellent understanding of the law of optical perception, but also, according to modern researchers, tried to create an allegory of the endless Roman Empire, the center of which would be the Capitoline Hill.

Of course, the Capitol is not limited to Piazzale Michelangelo. There are magnificent views of modern Rome and the ancient Forum from almost everywhere. One of the best viewing platforms in the capital is located next to the she-wolf near the Palace of Senators. If you are not satisfied with the views from the hill alone, you can go down and look at the ancient ruins from a closer distance.

On our first trip to Italy, we diligently visited all the museums and attractions according to the guidebook. We also checked in at the Capitol Museum. In general, I don’t really like ancient sculptures, but it was still interesting, I especially wanted to see the original of the Capitoline she-wolf. The museum also has a separate Pinakothek with paintings by Rubens, Titian, and Caravaggio.

There are two staircases leading to the Capitol Square. The steep marble steps - one hundred and twenty-four of them - leading to the church of Santa Maria in Araceli were built in the 14th century as an attempt to appease the Virgin Mary during the Black Death epidemic. They were brought from the Quirinal Hill and once led to the Temple of the Sun. Until the Renaissance, these were the only steps leading to the Capitol. If you climb them, it is immediately clear that they were built for strong Roman calves. Climbing the stairs leading to the Church of Santa Maria in Araceli is more difficult than climbing hundreds of small steps from the Renaissance. When the architects created the plaza on the Capitol, they were faced with the problem of creating a rise that would be worthy of the pre-existing ancient span and at the same time would not compete with it. So, they did not make a flight of stairs, but something like a gentle ramp, it starts next to the more ancient steps, has a slight slope and easily and gracefully leads to the top. There is something in this from the politeness of a young man letting his elders go ahead.

The first thing you will see in the square is Marcus Aurelius sitting on a horse, behind him stands the Palace of Senators. To the left of the emperor is the Capitoline Museum, and to the right is the Palace of the Conservatives; both buildings contain the most beautiful treasures of Ancient Rome.

A couple of quotes from Marcus Aurelius:
“This is the path to perfection - to live every new day as if it were the last, without falling into a fever, or into hibernation, and without trying to play a role.”
“If someone does you harm, immediately try to look at everything from his point of view, regardless of whether it is good or bad. As soon as you understand him, you will feel sorry for him, you will no longer be surprised by his action, nor angry with him.”
“No matter what anyone says or does, it is my duty to be kind.”
Ironically, he owes the survival of his bronze equestrian statue on the streets of Rome to a magnificent mistake of early Christendom: he was confused with Constantine the Great.

This perfect piazza was conceived by Michelangelo, although completed by his followers. It was he who carried Marcus Aurelius from the Lateran, where he had stood for five hundred years, and placed him on a pedestal made from a column of the temple of Castor and Pollux; and here he rides on a horse, the prototype of all the bronze horsemen who have since spurred their horses on the streets and squares of the world.

After admiring the square, we go to the museum. Museums are located in three palaces. Let's start with the New Palace.

Venus Capitoline (left). Someone, wanting to save “Venus” from Christians and fearing that she would be sent to the fire like a pagan goddess, carefully walled her up in a hiding place, where she spent the entire Renaissance, emerging completely intact in the 18th century. This is one of the most beautiful statues of Venus, although it is obvious that in Ancient Rome they did not value a thin waist - this was an achievement of the Middle Ages with their corsets.

The making of marble and bronze emperors was probably a lucrative business in Rome. The faces of the emperors were sent by the state to the cities and towns of the Empire, just as photographs of the reigning monarch are now sent to the British embassies. They probably expected loyalty, even from residents of remote places.

The Capitoline Wolf is a bronze sculpture dating back to the 5th century BC. and has been kept in Rome since antiquity. Depicts a she-wolf feeding two babies with milk - Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of the city. In 2006, Anna Maria Carruba, a metallurgy specialist who restored the Capitoline She-Wolf, published her findings: in her opinion, the sculpture of the She-Wolf herself (not the babies) could not have been made earlier than the 8th-10th centuries. The fact is that in antiquity they did not know how to cast large statues entirely: they were made in parts and then welded. The she-wolf was made immediately and entirely. Metal research published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica points to the 13th century as the most likely date for the statue's appearance.
At the same time, the authorship of the sculptures of the infants Romulus and Remus, obviously made in a different manner, was documented. They were added to the sculpture by Antonio del Pollaiolo in the 15th century.

Statue of Marcus Aurelius

Bernini's Medusa

Furietti Centaurs

Museum ceilings

In general, the museum is not very big; spending about 2-3 hours there is enough

When writing the report, information was used, including from Henry Morton’s book “Walks in Rome”.

More complete version of the story

Capitoline Hill is one of the seven sacred hills where Ancient Rome was founded and where its history began. Here they prayed to the ancient gods, passed laws, built patrician castles and created Renaissance masters. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Rome every year to see the Capitol and touch the thousand-year history. BlogoItaliano couldn’t ignore it either.

...The history of the Roman Capitol began from the very moment when a she-wolf found the twins Romulus and Remus, and, taking pity on the babies, fed them with her milk.

History and ancient temples of the Capitol

Either in memory of his salvation, or there was another reason, but it was this place that Romulus chose to build a new city, calling it Rome.

At the beginning of the 5th century BC. on this site the Capitoline Temple was erected in honor of the ancient Roman gods - Jupiter, Minerva and Juno. Here the Senate met, sacrifices were made and laws were written. For the Romans, the temple was not just the center of religion, but the embodiment of strength and power, a symbol of the power of the Roman Republic, and later the Empire.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to Rome every year to see the Capitol.

The fall of the empire led to the decline and destruction of the Capitoline Temple. Other buildings were erected on the ancient ruins, and there was a time when goats grazed on the hill.

Michelangelo and the Renaissance of the Capitol

Pope Paul III (1534 – 1549), a great admirer of art and science, decided to return the Capitol to its former greatness. Under him, Michelangelo began construction in the Vatican, wrote “The Last Judgment” in , and in 1537, on behalf of the pontiff, began reconstructing buildings and reorganizing the Capitoline Square.

And although the death of the master (1564) did not allow the plan to be completed (the restoration was completed by students), the ensemble of Capitoline Square created by Michelangelo is the most holistic and harmonious of all.

Michelangelo began rebuilding the Capitoline Square in 1537

In the center of the trapezoidal square is an equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, miraculously preserved from ancient times. And on its three sides are located: the Palace of Senators (today here is the city hall), the Palace of the Conservatives and its twin brother Palazzo Nuovo, built in the 17th century. Both buildings house the Capitoline Museums, where you can see famous paintings by artists, antique sculptures, porcelain, coins, ancient clothes, etc.

From the fourth - open side of the square - you can go down to the residential areas along the famous Cordonata staircase. Below, at the base, it is “guarded” by marble sculptures of Egyptian lions, and at the top are statues of the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, found during excavations in Pompeii in 1583. Behind the Dioskouri, along the balustrade, there are several more statues: Emperor Constantine, his son Constantine II, mileposts from the Appian Way and sculptures from the ancient fountain “Mario's Trophies”.

Insula and Mamertine prison

Despite the fact that little remains of the ancient buildings on the Capitol, in terms of their historical value these two buildings can give a head start to a dozen others. And one of them is the ancient Roman insula - a high-rise building in which apartments were rented out.

The ruins of an ancient Roman insula can be seen at the foot of the Capitoline Hill

The ruins of such an insula (2nd century AD) can be seen at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, to the left of the stairs leading to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli. Of the supposed five floors, four are well preserved, but from them you can imagine what the building looked like in the past. According to sources, the first floors were usually occupied by artisans' shops and workshops. Only wealthy citizens could afford apartments on the second floor with a toilet and, very rarely, running water. Well, on the upper floors, which had no amenities, the poor were housed. Each floor had its own staircase, stone or wooden.

The Mamertine prison is the most ancient landmark of the Capitol, built according to various sources either in the 6th or 4th centuries. BC. Both government officials and common criminals awaited execution in the two-story underground structure.

The Mamertine Prison is the most ancient landmark of the Capitol.

According to legend, it was here that the apostles Peter and Paul spent their last days, in whose honor a small altar with frescoes of saints was installed in the dungeon. After the prison was closed (late 4th century), pilgrims flocked here to venerate the saints, and in the 16th century, the Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter (San Giuseppe dei Falegnami).

Anyone can come here and venerate the face of the saints; entrance to the dungeons of the former prison, and today a museum, is absolutely free.

Address: Via Clivo Argentario 1. You can get there by metro, get off at Colosseo station.

Working hours: daily from 9.00 to 18.30. Short break from 12.30 to 14.00.

According to legend, it was here that the apostles Peter and Paul spent their last days

Basilica of the Virgin Mary (Santa Maria in Aracoeli)

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli was erected on the site of the ancient temple of Juno Moneta, which means “counselor” in Latin. By the way, Roman money was called by the name of the goddess - coins - and was minted on the territory of the temple. This is where the well-known words “coin” and “money” originate.

The legend of how geese saved Rome is also associated with the Temple of Juno. This bird, considered sacred in the temple, in the middle of the night, sensing “strangers”, woke up the guards with its cackle, and they, in turn, protected Rome from the attack of the Gauls.

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Araceli was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Juno Moneta

The Capitoline Basilica of the Virgin Mary also has its own legend contained in its name. According to legend, Emperor Octavian Augustus had a prophetic vision - a holy virgin with the son of God in her arms. The vision shocked the emperor so much that he decided to build an altar on the top of the hill, calling it “Aracoeli” (Altar of Heaven). The presence of found artifacts and inscriptions actually confirms this legend. And the altar, laid in honor of Jesus even before his birth, is considered the most ancient of all Christian altars.

Today the basilica houses the relics of St. Helena and the miraculous icon of the Madonna of Aracheli (10th century), tombs of famous Roman families with tombstones made by famous Renaissance masters.

Where is it located and how to get to the Capitol and museums:

Address: Piazza del Campidoglio

You can get to Capitol Square by metro: from the Colosseo station (line B) to the Capitol - a 10-15 minute walk. You need to walk along Via Dei Fori Imperiali in the direction of Piazza Venezia along, which will be on your left.

By bus: No. 30, 51, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 160, 170, 628, 810. Get off at the Ara Coeli-Piazza Venezia stop.

Finally, Capitol Hill is on the TOP list of our route.

Tour bus in Piazza Venezia

Opening hours and weekends

The Capitoline Square and its ancient monuments are open to the public 24 hours a day.

• Opening hours of the Basilica of the Virgin Mary: from 8.00 to 19.00, daily service takes place from 8:00 to 12:00. Free admission.
• Opening hours of the Capitoline Museums: daily from 9:30 to 19:30, with public access closed one hour before the museums close.
• On December 24 and December 31, museums are open from 9:30 to 14:00.
• Closed: December 25, January 1, May 1

Tickets

Tickets to the Capitol Museums are combined tickets; they combine several exhibits at once. The cost of one ticket is 15 euros, but it is unrealistic to thoroughly explore everything at once in one day.

For those who are ready to devote several days to visiting museums, it is more profitable to immediately purchase the “Capitol Map” costing 16 euros. It gives the right to visit all exhibitions in the Capitoline Museums for a week.

Photos by: Dominique BARRIER, Daryl Chan, Blog Espaço Aberto, Armel Gaulme, Juan Salmoral, David McKelvey, Eric Nelson.