 Piazza
del Campidoglio is located on the top of the Capitoline Hill, which
is one of the seven hills, which make up Rome.
Pope Paul III (Farnese) decided to reshape the Capitoline Hill
and make it an important city square or piazza. For this he engaged
the services of the famous renaissance artist and sculptor Michel
Angelo. The hill was a sacred site in antiquity but remained in
neglect. In the medieval times it was transformed into the seat
for secular governments and Roman guilds. It was in a bad condition
but Michel Angelo transformed it into one of the modern wonders
of urban planning.  He
took charge in transforming it into a dynamic new center of political
life. Although the renovation project started in 1598 it was completed
long after the death of Michel Angelo. The project proceeded very
slowly and was completed in many stages with frequent interruptions.
It was finally completed in the 17th century. However Etienne Duperac
preserves Michel Angelo’s original design in engravings from
the 1560’s.
This piazza is built in the style of Italian renaissance. It has
an elliptical courtyard with a central figure sculpture.  The
classically perfect marble staircase was designed by Michel Angelo
but completed after his death. It is known as the Cordonata. At
the foot of the stairs there are two statues of Egyptian lions and
at the top of the stairs there are two classical statues of Castor
and Pollux. At the center of the square there is a replica of the
statue of Marcus Aurelius as the original statue is in Piazza Nuovo.
The Palazzo Senatorio is the central building in the piazza. Until
1870 it functioned as the seat of the Senate after which it became
the seat of the city of Rome. It is situated at the south when you
approach it from the Piazza Venezia. This piazza is in front of
the Capitoline museum.
A nighttime visit to Piazza del Campidoglio is highly recommended.
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