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	Campidoglio
	written by sariah / 09.28.2005

Section Six

6 of 7

Personal Observations

http://www.dartmouth.edu/ ~classics/rome2003/updates/ week3_4/1009pres18Web.JPG

Campidoglio at Night

Although peaceful during the day, the Campidoglio is breath-taking at night. Monument lighting, of which the Romans are proud, transforms the square into a tranquil oasis above the busy city below.

In reading about the Campidoglio, one constantly encounters praises about the harmony of this site. H.V. Morton wrote that “In all cities, there are certain places, a church or a garden, where one may go as a sanctuary in moments of happiness or sorrow; and in spite of grand and stormy memories, the piazza on the Capitol is such a place to me.” Repeatedly, similar sentiments emerge from numerous writers reflecting the peaceful atmosphere of the Campidoglio.
Upon my visits to the Campidoglio, I was struck both by its ambient harmony and sense of aesthetic balance. Of particular interest to me was the interplay between the stellate pavement pattern and the enclosed trapezoid resulting from how the Palazzos are positioned. These two design elements relate different, opposing forces. Radiating from Marcus Aurelius, the white stripes of the paving seem to push outwards in contrast to the bold lines in the Palazzo façade that enclose the space. The trapezoidal configuration of the buildings welcomes the viewer into the square, as if the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Senatori are giant arms that embrace all who enter. As a result, the inward force of the Palazzos balance the outward force of the paving. It is fascinating to me that Michelangelo was able to so skillfully balance the illusions of these forces in his designs to give both movement and harmony to the space. As a result of its historical symbolism and architectural balance, the Campidoglio has retained its special beauty, harmony and function throughout the ages to modern times.

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