Page 409 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

ROME : AROUND PIAZZA NA VONA  407

w Area Sacra di
Largo Argentina
AROUND Largo di Torre Argentina. Map 2 F5.
PIAZZA @ 40, 46, 62, 64, 70, 81, 87, 186, 492.
NAVONA
Closed to the public.
Tevere
VATICAN
AND The remains of four temples
TRASTEVERE were discovered in the 1920s at
Locator Map the centre of Largo Argentina,
See Rome Street Finder map 3 now a busy bus terminus and
traffic junction. They date from
the era of the Republic, and are
among the oldest found in
Rome. For the purpose of iden­ Baroque Triumph of Faith over Idolatry
tification, they are known as A, by Pierre Legros, Gesù
B, C and D. The oldest (temple C)
dates from the early 3rd century e Gesù
BC. It was placed on a high Piazza del Gesù. Map 3 A4. Tel 06 69
platform preceded by an 70 01. @ H, 46, 62, 64, 70, 81, 87,
altar and is typical of Italic 186, 492, 628 & other routes.
temple plans as opposed to
Via della Gatta is overlooked by the Greek model. Temple A is Open 7am–12:30pm, 4–7:45pm daily.
this marble statue of a cat (gatta)
that gives the narrow street its from the 3rd century BC, but in Built between 1568 and 1584,
name. medieval times the small church the Gesù was Rome’s first
of San Nicola di Cesarini was Jesuit church. The Jesuit order
built over its podium, and the was founded in Rome in 1537
The Pie’ di Marmo, remains of its two apses are still by a Basque soldier, Ignatius
an ancient marble visible. The column stumps to Loyola, who became a Christian
foot, is probably the north belonged to a great after he was wounded in
part of a giant portico, known as the battle. The order was austere,
statue from the Hecatostylum (portico of intellectual and heavily
temple to the 100 columns). In Imperial engaged in missionary activity
Egyptian
goddess Isis. times two marble latrines and religious wars.
were built here – the The much­imitated design of
remains of one are visible the Gesù typifies Counter­
behind temple A. Behind Reformation architecture, with a
V I A D E L P L E B I S C I T O of a great platform of tufa blocks. main altar as the centrepiece for
temples B and C, near Via di
large nave with side pulpits for
Torre Argentina, are the remains
preaching to crowds, and a
These have been identified as
the Mass. The illusionistic
decoration on the nave ceiling
part of the Curia of Pompey,
and dome was added by
a rectangular building where
the Senate met, and where
The nave depicts the Triumph
Julius Caesar was assassi nated
by Brutus, Cassius and their Il Baciccia in the 17th century.
of the Name of Jesus and its
followers on 15 March 44 BC. message is clear: faithful,
Catholic worshippers will be
joyfully uplifted to Heaven
while Protestants and heretics
are flung into the fires of Hell.
t Santa Maria The message is reiterated in the
sopra Minerva Cappella di Sant’Ignazio, a rich
This is one of Rome’s few display of lapis lazuli, serpentine,
Gothic churches, with silver and gold. The Baroque
works by Michelangelo, marble by Legros, Triumph of
Bernini and Filippino Lippi. Faith over Idolatry, shows a
female “Religion” trampling on
Key
the head of the serpent Idolatry,
Suggested route while in Théudon’s Barbarians
Adoring the Faith, an angel aims
a kick to wards a decrepit old
0 metres 75
Area Sacra, with the ruins of circular barbarian couple entangled
0 yards 75 temple B with a snake.
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