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The current aspect of Piazza Navona (in December) made me flee this place (see my tip) and choose like my favourite place in Rome that of the "Campidoglio" or Capitole.
The arrival by the monumental staircase “Cordonata” drawn by Michel-Angel is a pleasure although the lions, of Egyptian origin, at the entry of the staircase do not project any more wine like “in the good old days”. And then when arriving at the height of the statues of Dioscures one discovers this square also build following a project of Michel-Angelo.
The three palaces are splendid and an amateur of museums like me finds there to enjoy himself.
While climbing I like to see appearing the equestrian statue of Marcus-Aurelius placed there in 1538. Today it is a copy whose restored original is in the Capitoline museums (ref. my tip). The realization of this copy from 1997 called upon elaborate techniques. The restitution of the geometrical shape of the equestrian statue was made through a numerical model.
A splendid discovery is made when following the small streets left or right of the palace of the Senators with the sights on the Foro Romano.
But the pleasure does not stop there; if I want to rest, refresh or nourish myself I go up to the cafeteria of the 2nd floor of the museum of the Palazzo dei Conservatori where the Cappuccino is excellent and the sight on Rome superb.
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It could be said that this figure sets the standard for Equestrian statuary. The Piazza and Capitoline Hill is reached by the grand flight of steps known as the "Cordonata", built to a design by Michelangelo especially for the triumphal entry of the Emperor Charles V in 1536. Michelangelo placed the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius on a new pedestal, removed in 1981 for some delicate restoration and currently situated inside the Museo Capitolino. A replica currently stands in the Piazza. Address: Piazza CamidoglioDirections: Capitoline
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 Copy, Gilded Bronze of
Emperor Marcus Aurelius by Lacristina
If you saw the movie "Gladiator," Richard Harris played the dying Marcus Aureleus who tried to leave the empire to Maximus - Russell Crowe. But the evil and power-hungry son Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix, had other ideas.
Unfortunately, as in the movie, M. Aureleus was succeeded by his crazy son, Commodus, who became one of the worst emperors. But that's another story.
The sculpture was found in the Tiber River and it's said that the only reason it survived and wasn't melted down to make a church door was because it was assumed to be Constantine, the first Christian Emperer. Lucky for us.
The sculpture in the piazza is a copy; the original (now restored) can be found in a newly-designed museum space in the Palazzo dei Conservatori of the Musei Capitolini.
The building immediately behind the statue in the photo is the Palazzo Senatorio, now the City Hall of Rome. Leave a Comment Address: Between Piazza Venezia and the Roman ForumDirections: Find the Colliseum - walk north through the Roman Forum and up to the Capitoline Hill or Campidoglio.
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 The Cordonata - Another
gift from Michelangelo by Lacristina
It sits on top of the Capitoline Hill, the smallest of the seven hills of Rome. The temple to Jupiter, the temple to his wife Juno, the temple to their daughter Minerva, and the Tabularium (the main archives of Rome) were all found here. Now it is home to the extraordinary Capitoline Museum, housed in the two palazzi on opposite sides of the piazza.
Capitoline - hence the English word capitol.
In this photo, you are looking up the fabulous "Cordonata" designed by Michelangelo, the elongated, elegant stairway to the piazza, flanked by sculptures Castor and Pollux at the top. They were the twin sons of Leda and Jupiter. The legend says that Jupiter disguised himself as a swan in order to seduce her. (I never understood why that would have worked.)
The building which appears directly in front of you is the Palazzo Senatorio, which now houses the office of the Mayor of Rome. The Palazzo Senatorio was built on top of the tabularium which you can see if you visit the Capitoline Museum.
Additional surprises and beauty await you as you climb the steps.
Two additional tips on the Campidoglio can be found here: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/67a55/23513/4/?o=1&i=1 Leave a Comment Address: Next to the northern end of the Roman Forum.Directions: Entrance to the Cordonata stairway is on Via del Teatro di Marcello, next to the steps to Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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 Statue of emperor Marcus
Aurlius by melissa_bel
Go behind the City Hall and you'll find ballustrade overlooking the Forum and giving you an extensive view, all the way to the Colosseum.
Oh, little detail... the statue is not the original. The real one has been put in the Museo Capitolino, just next door. Leave a Comment Address: Located just behind the Monument to Vittorio-Emman
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 Michelangelo's Campidoglio
eliptical pavement by Lacristina
But from the windows of the second floor (called the first floor or "primo piano" in Italy) of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museums, which is filled with ancient sculptures, you can see the beauty of the design. Unfortunately, the windows are usually only open on warm days.
Another way to see the pattern is to use GoogleEarth or GoogleMaps in the sattelite view. It's great for an overall view of the city layout, which can be confusing.
The Palazzo dei Conservatori can be seen behind the copy of the guilded bronze of Marcus Aurelius on horseback. The original of this sculpture is on display in that building, also part of the Capitoline Museum complex. Leave a Comment Address: Northwest end of the Roman Forum
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 Campidoglio by jungles
In 1536 Michelangelo was commissioned to create a beautiful piazza on the hill, which would once again be the location of a grand triumphal procession. This one, by orders of the pope, was to be for the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V as a show of gratitude for his victories over the armies of Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. In fact the procession never happened because the piazza was not finished in time; much of the work was done in the 17th century, after Michelangelo's death, and the paving he designed was not put in place until 1940 (on the orders of Mussolini).
Michelangelo designed new facades for the two already existing buildings, the Palazzo Senatorio and the Palazzo dei Conservatori. He then designed an altogether new building, known as the Palazzo Nuovo, to mirror the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the other side of the piazza. The twelve-pointed design in the floor represented the twelve signs of the zodiac. It is rather difficult to make out without a bird's eye view from above, but you can see the design on the back of the fifty-cent euro coin. Finally, there's the Cordonata, a monumental but graceful stairway with steps of such small height and so far apart that it's more of a ramp than a staircase. This was to allow Charles V and those in his procession to ascend to the top on horseback. Directions: When facing the huge white monument in Piazza Venezia, walk to the right, past the church on the hill with the very steep staircase, then walk up the cordonata which is next to the church. You can also access the Campidoglio from the Roman Forum.
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 by rukiLeave a Comment Address: Piazza Venezia
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 Piazza del Campidoglio by goodfish
Although you can get to the top more than one way, the Cordonata is on Via Del Teatro Di Marcello. Leave a Comment Address: Via Del Teatro Di MarcelloDirections: Very near the Forum. Look for the Victor Emmanuel Monument - you can't miss it.
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 the capitol by doug48Address: piazza del campidoglioPhone: 06 3996 7800Directions: capitol hill, next to the forum, metro: colosseo, bus: 63, 70, 75, 81.Website: www.museicapitolini.org
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