Civitavecchia
Visit Civitavecchia
A visit to Civitavecchia can start from the Forte of Michelangelo, built in 1503 to defend the port, at that time the communication centre for Rome. (Citizens wishing to escape the barbarian invasions were forced to find refuge at that time on the nearby mountains.) The work was begun by Bramante and the fortress was completed in 1535 under Pope Paul III Farnese, the great patron of the Arts. The work which shows the special attention used at Civitavecchia is the mighty fortress that Julius II Della Rovere, the warrior pope, erected to protect the harbour and city.
The fortress, designed by Bramante, the architect of confidence of the pope, was begun 14 December 1508 and work proceded well for the first few years. Some political difficulties then delayed the completion of the monument and eventually, with the central tower still to be completed, the task was entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who, brilliantly, was able to merge the part he added with the remaining building. On April 23, 1535, the pope was in Civitavecchia and he had the satisfaction of finally seeing the finished fort, which is certainly one of the largest forts from that era - the sides measure 100 meters and 82 metres. The octagonal tower measures 13 metres on each side, with walls up to 7.6 metres thick (slightly less on the sea facing sections). The main tower, designed by Michelangelo, is decorated towards the top with an elaborate cornice below which we can see the lilies, the emblem of the Farnese; one characteristic of this tower is that, in an possible emergency, it could be isolated from the rest of the fortress, allowing a more effective defence.
The Archaeological museum of Civitavecchia is located in an 18th century building by Clement XIII (1693-1769). Here you can see the finds from the original city of “Centumcellae” (see history of Civitavecchia) and from the surrounding areas. The museum spans three floors, inclusing a statue of Apollo from the excavation of the villa Simonetti, the alleged residence of the jurist Ulpian (170-223), and a replica of the “Athena Parthenos” by Phidias. Also from the area of “Santa Marinella” are two limestone slabs with battle scenes of “Castrum Novum”, dating from the first century AD.
The Cathedral Church of St. Francis, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), stands on the main square of Civitavecchia. The current church was built in the 18th century on the site of an earlier church, enlarged after 1769 when Cardinal Lorenzo Ganganelli became Pope Clement XIV. The architect Francesco Navona directed the work. The temple is placed in a single aisle, tall and long. An arch separates the chancel, where the great marble altar stands. The paintings in the chapels are not of great value, while the bells have historic significance because they were built with metal two guns specially gifted by the Pope. In 1805, the Church of St. Francis became the cathedral of the Diocese of Civitavecchia.
Very interesting is the Church of the Prayer of Death. The small church has a Greek cross, with simple architectural lines. The Brotherhood of Death is an ancient and venerable institution which has existed since the late 16th century. The Church of Our Lady of Grace is located in Piazza Leandra and is one of the oldest churches in Civitavecchia, the seat of the Banner Brotherhood. Of ancient origin, the Society of the Banner originated in 1274 in Civitavecchia. The brothers enlarged and embellished the church after they obtained it in 1688. Inside, besides precious ornaments, there is a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. The Church of the Most Holy Martyrs of Japan was built in 1864 at the end of Viale della Vittoria. It is dedicated to St. Pierre and his 25 companions who were martyred in Nagasaki on February 5 1597. The church was entirely rebuilt after the war, and greatly embellished by the frescos of the famous Japanese painter Lucas Hasegawa.
Roman Civitavecchia - or 'how to take a Roman bath...'
Finally, for those who love antiquities, we recommend a visit to the so-called “Terme Taurine”, a Roman archaeological site which is located within walking distance of Civitavecchia. In the 1st century BC, in the Republican age, the Romans realized these significant works of outstanding architectural value; the buildings were divided into two types, those dedicated to the baths and those where they carried out other related activities such as meetings or therapeutic massage. The complex is accessed through a rectangular 'peristylium', to the left of which were left small spaces, called “cubicula” , where they rested after a bath or healing treatments. It is here that some of the mosaic floors have been uncovered. Near the “cubicula” there were two “exedrae”, presumably equipped with a semicircular apse and seats, where visitors could sit and talk in the shelter of cold air currents. We then come to the typical area of the baths, the “tepidarium”, the place where visitors are acclimatized before entering the “laconicum” or “sudatorium”. These are circular and were originally covered by a dome.
It was here that the thermal waters were allowed to reach the highest temperatures. From the “laconicum”, via a corridor, visitors came first to a latrine, then two rooms which were called the “apodyterium” or dressing room. In each of these two rooms was a bathtub, the largest of which, with a mosaic floor, was in communication with the tank of the steam bath. This environment was intended to provide a warm bath and it had a structure of a basilica, with two rows of columns dividing it into three aisles. Above it there was a terrace / covered pavilion with a fine marble floor. The “calidarium” was fed by the “thermae” waters, carried through a lead pipe and the pool depth was about 1.20 meters. The entire environment was richly decorated with marble facings, stucco figured with various stakeholders and Ionic capitals.
Civitavecchia Cuisine
After visiting the “thermae” allow time to give a little attention to the culinary traditions of Civitavecchia, which boasts many recipes known throughout Italy. The cuisine is largely linked to the fishing activities and the recipes are mostly local seafood. One of the traditional dishes known nationally is the excellent "Pizza Easter", a typical Easter cake, while also definitely worth tasting is the famous "fish soup."
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