Hotels in Rome

The word is actually a Roman dialect corruption of the original word ‘Capitolino’. If the word still does not ring a bell in your mind, perhaps the ‘Capitoline Hill’ might.  Capitoline Hill is one of the original seven hills of Rome and is more famous because of its piazza and surrounding buildings.  The history of the hill is almost as immodest as the wide, sweeping staircase leading to the piazza itself, designed by Michaelangelo.  The hill first appears in recorded history as the sight of the temple for the hill’s triad of gods, Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus. The temple built here, was said to be the most beautiful and largest of any in the city at that time. This hilltop was also the place where invading Sabines were let into the city by the Vestal Virgin Tarpeia. Julius Caesar during the time of his reign, approached the hill and the temple, genuflected, in hopes of avoiding further ‘bad-luck’, having suffered an accident during a celebratory rite.  It is alleged, that barren women who are willing to climb the steps completely on their knees, will be rewarded with fertility, for the fruits of their labor. On bended knee, on horse back (as was the reason for the design of the stairs) or two feet planted firmly on the ground, all will reach the magnificent Piazza del Campidoglio skilfully designed by Michaelangelo from 1536-1546.   The Pope at the time eager to impress Charles V, commissioned Michaelangelo to redesign the existing piazza.  With a design to herald the supremacy of the Pope over that of the long defunct Roman Forum, Michaelangelo reversed the orientation of the piazza to face St. Peter’s Basilica, away from the old Roman Forum. He also updated the facades of the only two existing palazzos at the time in the piazza, Palazzo dei Conservatori the older of the two and Palazzo Senatorio.  Palazzo Nuovo was constructed in 1603 and modelled painstakingly after Michaelangelo’s redone palazzos. Walk the length of the piazza and realize how dwarf-like you feel, especially standing next to the replicated bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius. A lesser known area, although quite beautiful, is the quaint garden which sits at the left and to the back of the piazza.  As the sun begins to set in Rome, make your way to this garden which overlooks the ruins of the forum. Imagine the rubble below rising and moulding to become the all important Senate, teeming with people, politicians and soldiers. Live this important piece of history of Rome for yourself and begin to understand why in days long gone by, this city was ‘Caput mundi’. Hotels from our group found nearby; Hotel Pace Helvezia, Hotel Viminale, Hotel Gallia, Boutique Hotel Trevi.