STADIUM OF DOMITIAN

STADIO DI DOMIZIANO
Piazza Navona

About 85 AD, 275 x 106 m (902 x 348 feet)

There were two superimposed sectors (maeniana) and four entrances
It used to contain about 30,000 spectators

No documents proves the use of this stadium for naval battles that were instead held in the Naumachiae, stadiums specifically built for those kind of shows

However, from 1600s until the end of 1800s Piazza Navona was sometimes flooded with about 60 cm (2 feet) of water in the summer months to bring freshness to the Romans

Here maybe was found the sculptural group “Ajax with the body of Achilles” (or “Menelaus with the body of Patroclus”), today known as Pasquino

It was the seat of the market from mid-1400s until 1869 with the brief exception of the papacy of Innocent X Pamphili (1644/55) when the market was moved to Campo de' Fiori to give more nobility to the square where the Palace of the Pamphilj family stood

In 86 AD Domitian (81/96) established here the Certamen Capitolinum:
They were athletic games coupled with musical competitions that were held in the almost contemporary ODEON OF DOMITIAN on the area of today's Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne which was built on the curve of the auditorium

According to the Regional Catalogues the Odeon contained 10,600 spectators
The only visible remain is the “Monolithic column in cipolin marble” on Piazza dei Massimi

PALATINE HILL - EASTERN SIDE

ENTRANCE ON VIA DI S. GREGORIO

Gate by Jacopo Barozzi aka Vignola (1507/73) moved here from its original location on the Sacred Way

Entering it is possible to see the remains of buildings with vaults not yet studied that perhaps had functions of substructure

AQUEDUCT OF CLAUDIUS

Segment of the aqueduct that connected the Celium Hill with the Palatine Hill built by Domitian (81/96) in continuation of that of Nero (54/68) from the Spes Vetus (Porta Maggiore) to the Celium Hill, in turn a continuation of the Aqueduct of Claudius (41/54) 69 km (43 miles) long from the valley of the Aniene River

SEPTIZODIUM SEVERI

Known as Septizodium or according to some archaeologists, Septizonium

It was the monumental façade of a fountain-nymphaeum adorned with columns to impress those who came from the Appian Way

Demolished in about 1588 by order of Pope Sixtus V Peretti (1585/90) to obtain building materials with which to construct various buildings, including the Sistine Chapel in the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, elements of the façade of S. Girolamo degli Illirici and the Fountains of the Crossroads of the Quattro Fontane

ARCHES OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS

Structures of considerable height at the front end facing the Circus Maximus that had functions of substructure, to expand artificially the hill and create a platform to support the new wing of the palace at the time of Septimius Severus (193/211)

Though they are grand structures, they give only a faint idea of what was to be the grandeur of the original massive building

SEVERAN BATHS

Bathhouse from the time of Domitian (81/96)

The upper part of the building, the area of the baths, was built in later times, among which the most important is that of Septimius Severus (193/211), as shown by the marks on the bricks

The construction continued until the time of Maxentius (306/312)

MAXENTIUS BATHS

Among the Severan Baths and the Domus Augustana

Behind the building there is a cylindrical structure located towards the Circus Maximus, perhaps a latrine

Here Septimius Severus built a new imperial stage to watch the races of the Circus Maximus

SO CALLED “STADIUM“

160 x 48 m (525 x 157 feet)

At the two ends small semi-circular buildings, maybes fountains or terminal elements of the spina, the central dividing line

Originally there was a two-story portico restored in the Hadrian's period (117/138)

At the center along the east side there was the imperial box

Maybe it was the Viridarium, green space for rest and walking, and maybe even the Hippodromus Palatii

It was crossed by a wide boulevard ring from which paths and flower beds branched and it was decorated with statues and marbles

Here were found most of the statues now in the Museo Palatino

The small oval enclosure is perhaps dating back to the time of Theodoric (king of Italy 493/526) and may never have been used as an amphitheater, for gladiatorial games had been abolished for about 80 years at the time

HOTEL St. REGIS

HOTEL ST. REGIS

Via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando 3

1894 Giulio Podesti (1857/1909)

Until 2000 it was called the Grand Hotel

There are 138 rooms and 23 suites

Built on the area of the Temple of gentis Flaviae, temple of the Flavian family celebrating the emperors Vespasian (69/79), Titus (79/81) and Domitian (81/96)

In the courtyard there is a vine that matures enough grapes for about 100 bottles of Adornetto wine exclusively for hotel guests

Among the distinguished guests: Émile Zola, Leo Tolstoy, Benito Mussolini in 1922, Ferruccio Parri with the Italian Committee of Liberation and Marshal Badoglio

In the front garden there is COLUMN OF TWINNING with bronze caravel erect in 1961 to symbolize the partnership and friendship between Rome and Paris