2023-07-26 14:57:22
The last doubts, after almost three years of excavations, have now dissolved: in the bowels of the courtyard of Palazzo della Rovere in Rome, the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher which overlooks via della Conciliazione a few meters from the border with the Vatican, the ancient Theater of Nero emerged, which was located within the vast area of the Horti di Agrippina. With part of the cavea, the front scene, the access staircase, several columns in white and colored, African and cipollino marble have also emerged, as well as precious finds such as an Ionic-style capital in alabaster.
The archaeological investigation, conducted by the Special Superintendence of Rome, after the first surveys that began in January 2020, has returned an articulated stratigraphy that goes from the late Republican Age to the Middle Ages, up to the fifteenth century. In the vast area belonging to the Roman family Giulio-Claudia, inside the ‘Horti’ of Agrippina, Caligula had built a circus for horse racing and Nero ordered the construction of a theater, where he tried his hand at his poetic, singing and musical performances. A trailer was also filmed on the site by Rai Storia, anticipating the episode entitled ‘Under the soil of Rome’ which will be broadcast in October for the series ‘Italy, a journey into beauty’ created in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.
“It is a discovery of exceptional importance – underlines Daniela Porro special superintendent of Rome – which would testify to the presence of the Theatrum Neronis mentioned in ancient sources from Pliny to Suetonius and Tacitus, but so far never found. They are of great interest – he adds – also the medieval and modern finds that enrich the historical and topographical knowledge on the evolution of this important area of the city of Rome”. A part of the archaeological site will be brought to light, certainly with its columns; another part will instead be covered, while the finds will be exposed to the public.
The study and excavation activities, recalls the governor general of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, “were launched in the awareness of the responsibility for the property of knowing, protecting and enhancing from a historical point of view , archaeological and artistic headquarters of Palazzo della Rovere”, which houses, among other things, the Sala dei Demigods with the coffered ceiling decorated by Pinturicchio and which will partly house a hotel of the Four Season chain, by 2025 in time for the Jubilee .
(by Enzo Bonaiuto)
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