Campidoglio

The Campidoglio: Rome's Capitoline Hill

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The Campidoglio: Description
The square that stands before the Campidoglio was designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti on the request of Pope Paul III in 1536 in order to impress the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Michelangelo planned the whole square, turning it to face St. Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo didn’t see the end of the works that were carried out in the XVII century according to the plan designed by the artist for the palaces and only in 1940 for the geometrical design on the floor of the square.

The top of the Capitoline Hill where the Campidoglio stands is about 460 meters long and 180 meters wide, and stands between the Imperial Forum, and the Camus Martius. Located to the sides of the vast trapezoidal square of  the Campidoglio there are three palaces. On the left you will see Palazzo Nuovo added by Michelangelo, today it is part of the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums), the main Roman municipal museum. This museum offers a beautiful collection of classical sculptures from Etruscan Age bronzes to Renaissance marbles. Opposite Palazzo Nuovo there is Palazzo del Senato, seat of the Rome city hall. On the right there is Palazzo dei Conservatori, its medieval structures were removed by Michelangelo in order to harmonize it with Palazzo del Senato. In the middle of the square we can admire the famous equestrian bronze statue of Marco Aurelio (the original is located inside the museum and is a must see). The wide steps, the Cordonata, which are a little steep, have a fantastic view of the town. At the top, from both parts of the Cordonata, there are the statues of Castor and Pollux. On the left side of Palazzo del Senato there is the famous bronze sculpture of the Roman she-wolf while feeding the twins Romolus and Remus (again the original is located inside the museum).

The Capitoline Museums: Opening Hours
The Capitoline Museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the 31st of December from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (the ticket office closes an hour beforehand). Closed on Monday, the 25th December, the 1st  of January, and the 1st of May. More information can be found on the offcial web site which has been linked to for your convenience above. 

The Campidoglio: How to Get There
The attraction at the Campidoglio can be reached on foot from Piazza Venezia, which is connected by several buses. From Termini: lines 40, 64 or 170 or by the Rome Metro: catch line B in the Laurentina direction for two stops until you arrive at the Coliseum stop. From the metro station you should walk down Via dei Fori Imperiali, in the direction of Piazza Venezia admiring the Roman Forum along the way. If you want to shorten your route from the Colosseum you may catch the bus lines number 85, 87, 810, 850. From Piazza Barberini: lines 63 or 95. From Saint Peter's: lines 40, 62 or 64.

The Campidoglio: What to See
The Imperial Forum, the Colosseum, Trajan's Markets, Trajan's Column, and the Victorian (the Monument to the first King of unified Italy located in Piazza Venezia) are all located very near to the Campidoglio .

The Campidoglio: Where to Eat
For some advice on where you can eat after visiting othe Campidoglio choose one of the restaurants from our guide to Restaurants in Rome.

The Campidoglio: Where to Stay
For some useful advice on places to stay check out our guide Hotel in the Center of Rome.

The Campidoglio: What to Do
Let’s discover some Pubs in Rome where you can have something cold to drink and relax .

More and different things to come in Campidoglio.

 
View Piazza Campidoglio in a larger map

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