Study Abroad 2011: Day 2: Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)

After hanging out at the roof garden, Kayla and I left to meet our Art History classmates in the Piazza del Campidoglio, around 3 pm. Campidoglio, or The Capitoline Hill is the smallest of the 7 Hills of Rome and arguably the most important because it was the political and religious center of Rome. The Piazza del Campidoglio was created by Michaelanglo on the summit of the hill around the famous equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius. Around the Piazza is the town hall of Rome which includes the Palazzo Senatorio and the Palazzo de Conservatori. The Palazzo Senatorio was the seat of the new senate in the 12th century. In the mid 19th century governing magistrates carried out their administrative duties in Palazzo de Conservatori. Also around this Piazza are the temples of Vespasian, Saturn and Jupiter, hence its significance as a religious center. At the end of the 19th century a Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II was also built there. Unfortunately there was an event at the Capitoline Hill on Thursday so they closed the museum early and we were unable to go in however we hope to try and go again later in our trip.