Rome – The opening of the Archaeological Park of the Celio with the Museum of the Forma Urbis is one of the best pieces of news that can reach the ears of enthusiasts of Roman archaeology, and beyond. It is, first and foremost, an extraordinary place, highly significant for the history of the Urbe. It is the northern part of the Hill, facing the Colosseum. In an area, needless to say, rich in archaeological structures, such as the foundations of the temple of the Divine Claudius.
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The area was planned in the nineteenth century as a public walk, somewhat on the model of the Pincio, and then used for the construction of the gymnasium of GIL (the Italian Youth of the Lictor, during the Fascist era). The garden now collects important fragments that tell of the construction techniques of ancient Rome, a real treasure for scholars.
The new museum of Forma Urbis
But the Museum of the Forma Urbis is the true vault of this treasure. Finally, after 75 years, and even after a century for most of the fragments, the exceptional marble map of imperial Rome, created between 203 and 211 CE, is visible to the public again. What remains of it are hundreds of fragments, of which only about 200 are identified, 10% of the total surface, which was 18 meters by 14. There is no document that tells us about the capital of the empire, let’s say in real-time, like this one. The enormous map was very detailed and told the story of Rome building by building, with extreme precision. A boon for archaeologists, historians, and visitors. The fragments are what remains of those found in the 16th century; the marble slabs, 150 in total, were affixed to the Temple of Peace, then on a wall of what became the church of Saints Cosma and Damiano, at the Forum. Then, as always, dispersed, sold, stolen over the centuries. And, sometimes, with fragments still to be found, practically every decade, one emerges. Each one tells us a little more about the great history of Rome. Going to see it on the Celio, intelligently displayed on the reproduction of the eighteenth-century map of Nolli, is an extraordinary experience.
Useful information for the visit
Viale del Parco del Celio 20 – Viale del Parco del Celio 22 – Clivo di Scauro 4. The Archaeological Park of the Celio is open every day from 7:00 to 17:30 (standard time) and from 7:00 to 20:00 (daylight saving time). Closed on December 25th and May 1st. The Museum of the Forma Urbis is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 (last entry one hour before). Closed on Monday, December 25th, May 1st.
FURTHER INFORMATION at the link: www.sovraintendenzaroma.it
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