The
Capitol was from ancient times a nerve-centre
for the city life, at first holy place and then
place of power when Roman Senate settled there;
nowadays it's the seat of the commune. If you
want to arrive there you must go up the flight
of steps designed by Michelangelo. When you arrive
to the top you are in one of the most defined
architectural spaces that all history can offer.
The trapezoidal shaped square is a space unique
in the world, the famous statue of Marco Aurelio
is in the center of the system; when you arrive
from the flight of steps, on the left you have
Palazzo Nuovo, on the right Palazzo of conservatives
(both palaces house Capitoline museums), straight
you can see the statue and on the background Senatorial
Palace - the stair to enter it, made by Michelangelo
himself, is really beautiful, as much as the fountain
that leans on it. At the top the tower of Capitol
stands out; it was made by Martino Longhi the
Elder. You should notice too the peculiar paving
chosen by Michelangelo for the square, referable
to an oval built through a strongly dynamic geometry,
that from certain sides can remind of some petals,
from other sides of mathematical speculations
typical of the Renaissance.
The Capitoline museums are, together with the
square, an important attraction for the visitors,
and represent the oldest public collection existing,
in which you can find very valuable sculptures
and pictures.
