Piazza del Campidoglio

Speranza

The modern name for the top of the SMALLEST -- but most imoprtant -- of Rome's seven hills, the Capitoline, the site of the CAPITAL of the Western world, during the Roman Empire.

HERE, Brutus spoke of the death of Giulio Cesare.

Here PETRARCA was crowned with his much wanted laurel leaves.

Here, in 1799, NELSON's troops hoisted the British flag just in time to keep Napoleon from taking all.

Piazza del Campidoglio as we see it today was designed by Michelangelo in 1538, but not fully completed until 110 years later for the triumphant entry into Rome of Charles V, the holy Roman emperor who had driven the infidels out of Spain and back to North Africa.

This is THE FIRST MODERN SQUARE in Rome, and to many its TRAPEZOIDAL plan alsmo makes it the city's MOST BEAUTIFUL.

The climb up Michelangelo's ramp is to be done with eyes up in order to see the MARCO AURELIO's statue emerging against the background of the Renaissance facciate.

Michelangelo's plan was to TURN the Capitoline Hill, once the CAPITOL of the the Western world, around 180 degrees, with all its buildings FACING THE FORO.

Michelangelo re-arranged the two preexisting buildings, added a thid, the one on the left (he couldn't stand asymmetry), and designed the ramp so that the Capitoline Hill would TURN ITS BACK on pagan Rome and face the Christian city.

The facciate of the three buildings are his, as is the handsome base for the MARCO AURELIO and the pattern of the square's pavement.

This 2nd-century state, the OLDEST equestrian bronze work to survive intact from Antiquity, managed to avoid rapacious vandals and popes only because it had been mistakenly identified as representing "COSTANTINO", the emperor who made the world safe for Christianity.

The statue was removed for urgent restoration from 1980 to 1990. It is now visible behind pollution-proof glass in a sie courtyard of the adjacent Palazzo dei Conservatori.

The 2 large stateues at the TOP of the steps are of

CASTOR and POLLUX,

the twin sons Leda had after she had carnal congress with a swan who was none other than GIOVE in disguise.

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