This itinerary explores the heart of Ancient Rome, the very centre of the mighty and innovative civilization which dominated the Mediterranean and Europe for hundreds of years. In this small area you will find examples of the achievements of this great civilization in art, architecture and engineering.
The symbolic centre of the Roman World was the Capitol, the southern summit of the Capitoline Hill. Below the Captitol lies the Roman Forum, the fulcrum of all political, social, legal and commercial life. Overlooking the Forum is the Palatine Hill, where Romulus founded Rome and which was the home of the emperors for over 400 years. To the sides of the Palatine are the centres of entertainment and relaxation - the Circus Maximus, the Caracalla Baths and the Colosseum.
A tour of Ancient Rome has to begin with the most dynamic of all the buildings - the Colosseum - the biggest amphitheatre of its time and of all time. Built by Vespasian and completed by his son, Titus, in AD80, this was a building for the people, initiated by a man who understood their (bloodthirsty!) tastes. Here spectacles, gladiatorial contests and venationes (fights between men and beasts) were staged. This building is an architectural masterpiece in terms of planning, engineering and organisation. Today you can still see the complex series of mechanisms which provided for the simultaneous appearance of large numbers of animals and the best preserved system for securing the velarium, or awning.
The Colosseum was constructed on the site of the lake in the grounds of Nero's party palace - the Golden House - the notorious Domus Aurea. Now partially buried beneath the platform of Trojan's Baths, this vast palace was Nero's greatest architectural achievement. The octagonal room, with its dramatic play of light and space, is perhaps the most revolutionary concept in this immense edifice. The extravagant décor was inlaid with gold, highlighted with gems and mother of pearl, and included one of the first major examples of glass mosaic in a vault.
Between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill the last of Ancient Rome's Triumphal Arches, the Contstantine Arch commemorates the Emperor's victory over Maxentius in 312. Through this arch victory processions entered the Forum.
Originally a swampy valley between the hills, the site of the Forum was drained and over the years the old Roman Forum was transformed from a market place to the hub of the great empire. In this small area all the great institutions of the city, both civic and religious, were concentrated.
Basilicas, temples and arches crowd in upon you as you descend into the valley, even in their ruined state inspiring awe at their grandeur. The gigantic, 20.88metre high, 23.27metre wide monumental arch of Septimus Severus towers amongst the ruins. This classic example of a triple arch was built to celebrate the victories over the Parthians. Among the many temples is the Temple of Peace, built by Vespasian, in which the famous great marble plan of Rome was displayed. The Temple of Antonius Pius and Faustina, built by Antonius after the death of his beloved wife, is better preserved then most, having been converted into a church in the 7thcentury. The cella and portico of this temple have survived. Looking up at the pronaos with its 10 monolithic Corinthian columns, the rich bas reliefs of the freeze under the cornice of garlanded griffins and candelabra, one can begin to experience some of the feelings of reverence once created by these edifices.
Rising over the Forum is the Palatine Hill. Offering a natural defensive position, safe yet with easy access to the sea, the hill was inhabited since Iron Age times. This was the residential area of choice for the most wealthy patricians and later became the home of the Emperors. It was Augustus who made the hill his power base and initiated the programme of building imperial palaces here. The Palatine became the centre of power throughout the subsequent history of Rome.
The House of Griffins, the oldest building on the Palatine dates back to 2nd or 1st century BC. The name derives from a stucco relief of Griffins in one of the rooms. One of the best preserved buildings is Livia's House, behind that of Augustus. The most monumental palace was constructed by Domitian; his architect, Rabirius, created a palace worthy of the rulers of the Roman World, a complex of striking originality. This palace was completed by Septimus Severus but demolished by Pope Sixtus V. You can however still enjoy the beautiful panorama from the terrace and the massive concrete substructures are a conspicuous feature of the hill.
In the archaeological Museum, which is housed in a former convent built in the remains of Domitian's Palace you will find Iron Age materials discovered in excavations of the Palatine and paintings from Republican and Imperial Rome.
The southwest corner of the palace overlooks the long valley where the Circus Maximus was built. The 621metre by 118metre Circus was the longest of all buildings used for entertainment in the Roman World. Here chariots, twelve teams of four horses, would compete. Venationes also took place and in the First Punic War 2424 Cartheginian elephants captured at Palermo were paraded here.
Rising to the west of the Circus, the Aventine Hill occupies a panoramic and strategic control point on the River Tiber. This is the legendary site of the rival settlement set up by Remus. At first outside the city walls, this came to be the territory of the plebeians who had their main temples and sanctuaries here. Once the home of cosmopolitan population involved with the nearby port, it is now an elegant residential area.
To the southeast of the Circus lie the massive gaunt walls of another recreational building, the Caracalla Baths. This complex provided hot and cold bathing facilities, swimming pools, running tracks, sports grounds and libraries. Built between AD 212-216 these baths, the largest ever built, represent the culmination of the development of the thermae type of bath and are a masterpiece of planning.
Beyond. Through the San Sebasteano Gate, the Appian Way, the most important Ancient Roman Road, the Queen Road, begins its 560kilometre course to Brindisi. The ancient thoroughfare passes through the Appia Regional Park. Here, stretches of age old pavement and vestiges of the glory of Roman Civilization are preserved and protected amidst the native Mediterranean flora and fauna so often depicted by the ancient inhabitants.
