CAMPIDOGLIO

Speranza

NICHOLAS V also lavished sums on important works which assisted in harmonising the PALAZZO SENATORIO with the new seat of the CONSERVATORI.

Thus, the old edifice was strengthened considerably on ALL SIDES and a NEW TOWER raised, which is still seen facing the ARCO of SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS.

To artists of renown was entrusted the decoration of the rooms, and skillful marble cutters were engaged in the embellishment of the windows of the facciata, nad of the one looking towards MONTE CAPRINO from which the SENATOR would witness the capital punishments; for it was on the CAMPIDOGLIO that justice was administered, while death sentences were executed on MONTE CAPRINO or on the piazza.

Thus at the close of the fifteenth century the summit of the CAMPIDOGLIO, closed in towards the FORO by the PALAZZO SENATORIO, to the right by the PALAZZO DEI CONSERVATORI, opposite to which arose the massive lateral wall of the CHURCH OF ARACOELI with its elegant ogival windows (traces of which can still be seen) presented both a characteristic and HIGHLY PICTURESQUE appearance.