Campo Marzio Explained

Official Name:Campo Marzio
Settlement Type:Rione of Rome
Seal Size:100px
Mapsize:200px
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Italy
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Lazio
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Rome
Subdivision Type3:Comune
Subdivision Name3:Rome
Unit Pref:Imperial
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2

Campo Marzio (pronounced as /it/) is the 4th Italian: [[Rioni of Rome|rione]] of Rome, Italy, identified by the initials R. IV. It belongs to the Municipio I and covers a smaller section of the area of the ancient Campus Martius.[1] The logo of this rione is a silver crescent on a blue background.

History

Until the domination of Napoleon, in 19th century, the rione was also known by the spelling Campo Marzo.

In the Middle Ages, after the main aqueducts of the city were ruined during the Gothic sieges in 6th century and following to the establishing of St. Peter's Basilica as a focal point for pilgrims, Campo Marzio became one of the most densely populated zones of Rome. The borough was crossed by the procession that used to accompany newly elected Popes from St. Peter's Basilica to their official residence, St. John in Lateran. Moreover, the area was also passed through by the Via Lata, one of the main arteries linking Rome to the rest of Europe, resulting from the merger of Via Cassia and Via Flaminia.

The urban pattern was quite dense, and included several monuments and a number of remains of ancient buildings. Campo Marzio experienced manifold urban renewal interventions during the Renaissance, with the construction of several churches and noble palaces. Pope Paul II redeveloped the Via Lata (the current Via del Corso), Pope Julius II promoted the construction of two straight roads on each shore of the Tiber, Via Giulia on the left shore and Via della Lungara on the right one, between Trastevere and the Vatican. Pope Leo X ordered the creation of a new road connecting Ponte Sant'Angelo to Porta del Popolo, the Via Leonina (Via di Ripetta). In 1570, Pope Pius V promoted the restoration of the Acquedotto Vergine, leading to the creation of new fountains in the area.

New works were undertaken when Rome became the new Italian capital, in 1870, first of all massive walls were built alongside the Tiber, to avoid floods, which were flanked by Lungotevere in Augusta and Lungotevere Marzio. The rione was linked to the near Prati through the construction of Ponte Regina Margherita in 1891, while in 1902 a new bridge (Ponte Cavour) was built downstream, in line with Piazza Cavour, demolishing the Porto di Ripetta.

In 1909, depending on the urban development of Prati, a large demolition project was planned in Campo Marzio, envisaging a new artery climbing down the Pincio and reaching Ponte Cavour. The plan was then modified, and in 1926 a massive refurbishment started in the area near the Mausoleum of Augustus, demolishing about 120 houses and creating a big empty space around it.

Geography

Boundaries

Northward, Campo Marzio is delimited by the Aurelian Walls (alongside Via Luisa di Savoia) and by Piazzale Flaminio, that separates it from Quartiere Flaminio (Q. I). To the north, it also borders with Quartiere Pinciano (Q. III), whose border is marked by Piazzale Flaminio and by the portion of the Aurelian Walls beside Viale del Muro Torto.

Eastward, Campo Marzio borders with Ludovisi (R. XVI), from which it is separated by Via di Porta Pinciana and Via Francesco Crispi.

To the south, it borders with other 3 rioni: Colonna (R. III), from which Campo Marzio is separated by Via Francesco Crispi, Via Capo le Case, Via dei Due Macelli, Via Frattina, Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina and Via di Campo Marzio; Sant'Eustachio (R. VIII), whose boundary is defined by Piazza in Campo Marzio, Via della Stelletta and Via dei Portoghesi; and Ponte (R. V), the boundary being a brief stretch of Via dell'Orso and Via del Cancello, up to the Tiber.

To the west, Campo Marzio boundary is the Tiber itself, that separates it from Prati (R. XXII).

Local geography

Piazzas
Roads

Places of interest

Palaces and other buildings

Archaeological sites

Churches

Notes and References

  1. Web site: history, maps and images of the rione . 30 June 2019 . Virtual Roma . https://web.archive.org/web/20060916204455/http://mp_pollett.tripod.com/rione04.htm . 16 September 2006 . live .