Area Sacra Rome, Largo Argentina Photos, Building, Italian City Space Design Images
Area Sacra Roma : Architettura Largo Argentina
Roman civic realm – city landscape & building photographs, Italy, Europe
post updated 17 July 2021
Area Sacra
Largo Argentina, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
ancient roman remains, various centuries
Location: central – southwest of city centre
photos © Adrian Welch
Largo di Torre Argentina is a square in Rome, Italy, with four Roman Republican temples and the remains of Pompey’s Theatre. It is in the ancient Campus Martius.
The name of the square comes from the Torre Argentina, which takes its name from the city of Strasbourg whose Latin name was Argentoratum. In 1503, the Papal Master of Ceremonies Johannes Burckardt, who came from Strasbourg and was known as “Argentinus”, built in via del Sudario a palace (now at number 44), called Casa del Burcardo, to which the tower is annexed.
The other tower in the square is the medieval Torre del Papito (“Little Pope’s Tower”). It is attributed by tradition to Antipope Anacletus II Pierleoni, allegedly not a tall person.
After Italian unification, it was decided to reconstruct part of Rome (1909), demolishing the zone of Torre Argentina. However, during the demolition work in 1927, the colossal head and arms of a marble statue were discovered.
The archeological investigation brought to light the presence of a holy area, dating to the Republican era, with four temples and part of Pompey’s Theatre. Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Curia of Pompey: the location where he is believed to have been assassinated is in the square.
More architectural details very welcome.
Adjacent buildings include:
The Pantheon
photo © Adrian Welch
Gesu church, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
photograph © Adrian Welch
Location: Rome, Italy, southern Europe
Architecture in Rome
Rome Architecture Designs – chronological list
Rome Architecture Walking Tours
Adjacent public spaces include:
Piazza Navona
photograph © Adrian Welch
Rome Architect – architectural practice listings on e-architect for the Italian capital city
Piazza Tevere, by Tiber River
Design: Ballman Khapalova
image : Ballman Khapalova
Piazza Tevere
Between the Ponte Giuseppe Mazzini and the Ponte Sisto there is a section of the Tiber River that is perfectly rectangular. It is the same size and proportion as the Circus Maximus, and like the Circus Maximus, this section of the river can become a vital center for public life in Rome.
Images by Adrian Welch available upon request: photos 2816×2112 pixels
Buildings / photos for the Area Sacra Roman building page welcome