Campitelli


Campitelli is the 10th rione of Rome, identified by the initials R. X, and is located in the Municipio I.
Its emblem consists of a black dragon's head on a white background. This symbol comes from the legend that Pope Silvester I threw out a dragon staying in the Forum Romanum.

History

Some of the major vestiges of the Ancient Rome are located in the area, such as the Palatine Hill, the Campidoglio and the Roman Forum.
When in the Middle Ages the new administrative subdivision of the city was adopted, Campitelli was the 12th and last rione. It was called Campitelli in Sancti Adriani, after the deconsecrated church of Sant'Adriano al Foro. Since the 12th century, the Palazzo Senatorio became the seat of the Senatore di Roma, the principal civic authority of the city in the Middle Ages. The Palazzo Senatorio and the basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli are the only remaining features of the medieval construction industry in the rione.
The rione experienced relevant urban modifications between 1536 and 1546, after Pope Paul III commissioned to Michelangelo the refurbishment of the Campidoglio and of the nearby piazza, in order to receive Emperor Charles V. Michelangelo's project was brought to completion only in 18th century by Carlo Rainaldi, who built the baroque church of Santa Maria in Campitelli.
The appearance of the area changed relevantly between 19th and 20th century, after the construction of the Victor Emmanuel II Monument and after the massive demolitions performed by the Fascist government.
In 1921 a part of Campitelli was detached and merged into the newly created rione Celio.

Geography

Boundaries

Northward, the rione borders with Pigna, whose border is marked by Via di San Marco, Largo Enrico Berlinguer and Piazza Venezia, and also with Trevi, from which is separated by Piazza Venezia itself and Piazza della Madonna di Loreto.
Eastward, the rione borders with Monti, the boundary being marked by the whole Via dei Fori Imperiali, and with Celio, from which is separated by Piazza del Colosseo, Via di San Gregorio and Piazza di Porta Capena.
Southward, the border with Ripa is defined by Via dei Cerchi, Via di San Teodoro, Via dei Fienili, Piazza della Consolazione and Vico Jugario.
To the west, the rione borders with Sant'Angelo, whose border is marked by Via del Teatro di Marcello, Via Montanara, Piazza di Campitelli, Via Cavalletti, Via dei Delfini, Piazza Margana, Via Margana and Via d'Aracoeli.

Places of interest

Archaeological Sites