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The most important temple of Roma was located in the 6th century B.D. on the top of the mount of Jupiter, where nowadays Piazza del Campidoglio is. Michelangelo was once again the artist who created the star-shaped square, the splendid façade of Palazzo Senatorio, the seat of Rome City Council since 1143, and the two palaces surrounding the square which are seats of the oldest museum of the world, the Musei Capitolini. Very nearby and connected to it there is the Altare della Patria, a monument dedicated to the previous king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, and to the Unknown Soldier.
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The Altare della Patria overlooks the splendid Piazza Venezia, so-called because of the palace ordered by Pope Paul II, who was of Venetian origins. This area was originally the centre of a nice medieval and renaissance quarter where the great Michelangelo used to live until his death.
Walking from Piazza Venezia towards Via del Corso, hearth of the central shopping area, we can get to Piazza Colonna and Piazza Montecitorio, where is the seat of the Italian Republic Parliament, and then to Piazza della Rotonda. This square takes its name from the structure of the Pantheon, an ancient masterpiece of architecture, round-shaped, used as a temple and probably the best preserved building of ancient Rome.
Initially built by appointment of Agrippa, son-in-law of the emperor Cesare, the Pantheon was completely rebuilt by the emperor Adriano, with a huge dome, its perimeter being about 43,30 meters.
Its dome was realized using different materials with a big hole, about 9 meters, at the top in order to collect rain water inside.
Very few steps get you to Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares of Rome. The original shape of the square is the same of the ancient stadium of Domiziano, built in 86 A. D. for athletic games.
Today's aspect of Piazza Navona is due to the aristocratic family Pamphili who wanted to make it one of the most scenic places of Rome, asking some very important architects to build up palaces, houses, churches and fountains.
Nowadays it is surrounded by cafés and ice-cream shops and the whole area at night is very lively, with crowds of people meeting there for an aperitivo or a pizza.
Our trip can not neglect Piazza di Spagna, since the 17th century meeting-point for travellers coming from all over the world, artists, intellectuals. In 1857 it was erected a tall column dedicated to the Virgin: since then, every year on the 8th of December, the Pope goes there to commemorate the anniversary of the Immacolata Concezione.
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