Piazza Augusto Imperatore

Piazza Augusto Imperatore is one of the most evocative and historically rich places in Rome, located in the heart of the city, a few steps from the Tiber River. The square owes its name to the Mausoleum of Augustus, which dominates the center of this urban space. This funerary monument, built for Emperor Augustus and his family, is a symbol of the greatness of ancient Rome and its imperial legacy. The Mausoleum of Augustus, begun in 28 BC, is one of the largest funerary complexes of antiquity. Its circular structure, with a diameter of about 87 meters, is composed of concentric rings of travertine walls, originally covered in white marble. At the center of the mausoleum was a burial chamber where the cinerary urns of the imperial family were kept. This monument represents not only a burial place, but also an expression of the power and continuity of the Augustan dynasty. Over the centuries, the Mausoleum of Augustus has undergone various transformations. During the Middle Ages, the structure was fortified and used as a castle. In the Renaissance, it was abandoned and gradually incorporated into the surrounding structures. Only in the 20th century, thanks to the urban interventions of the fascist regime, the mausoleum was brought to light and the surrounding square was created to exalt the memory of Augustus and his empire. Piazza Augusto Imperatore was designed in the 1930s by architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, commissioned by Benito Mussolini. The project involved the demolition of the medieval and Renaissance buildings that had incorporated the mausoleum, to create a monumental space that celebrated ancient Rome and its imperial legacy. The square was inaugurated in 1937, on the occasion of the bimillenary of Augustus’ birth, and represents one of the most significant examples of urban planning during the fascist period. One of the distinctive elements of the square is the Ara Pacis, the Altar of Peace, another important Augustan monument. The Ara Pacis was built to celebrate the peace and prosperity achieved during the reign of Augustus. Originally located in the Campus Martius, it was rediscovered in the 16th century and, after various relocations, in 1938 it was placed next to the Mausoleum of Augustus in a new building designed by Morpurgo. In 2006, the altar was transferred to a modern structure designed by architect Richard Meier, which sparked much discussion due to the contrast between the ancient monument and contemporary architecture. Surrounding the square are modern and functional buildings, including the Palazzo dell’INPS, also designed by Morpurgo, which represents an example of rationalist architecture from the 1930s. The square is also a meeting and socializing place, frequented by tourists and Romans who gather to admire the monuments and enjoy the surrounding green spaces. The Mausoleum of Augustus and the Ara Pacis have been the subject of numerous restoration and enhancement interventions in recent decades. These works have allowed the original characteristics of the monuments to be brought to light and made accessible to the public. The mausoleum, in particular, was reopened to the public in 2021, after a long and complex restoration project that restored the monument to its original grandeur.