Piazza Augusto Imperatore

The square centrally houses the colossal Mausoleum of Augustus, built by the Roman emperor Gaius Caesar Octavian between 23 and 18 BC. to house his ashes. It is the largest funeral isolation in the ancient world. Its diameter is 87 meters. It remains the base and the first floor, or a third of the original monument. In medieval times it was used as a fortress, then as an arena for bullfights, then as an auditorium in the fascist period, then left abandoned. The restorations began after 2000; it is currently open to the public.

Piazza Augusto Imperatore, is located in the IV Campo Marzio district, and was created in the thirties of the last century, to celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Augustus (born in 63 BC) and consequently to give more prominence in the urban fabric of the city to its Mausoleum, with the typical approach of the regime to isolate and enhance the monuments of ancient Rome. To do this, many surrounding buildings were demolished (several important examples of the Baroque), only the two churches of: • San Rocco all'Augusteo • Saint Jerome of the Illyrians At the same time, three new palaces named INPS were created, with the architectural style of rationalism, on three sides of the square, giving it a perfect but cold geometric shape. Still with this in mind, on the fourth side, the important Mausoleum of the Ara Pacis was rebuilt and positioned, with a roof that was later replaced in 2006. From the point of view of the time, we wanted to create a sort of modern "Roman Forum" where the jewel was the Mausoleum of Augustus and around the buildings with the arcades the fulcrum for commercial and service activities. In depth: 1) The Mausoleum of Augustus, is a funerary monument of a diameter of almost 90 meters, the largest known circular shape, and consists of five concentric walls, was built around 30 BC. In the center was the crypt of the tomb of Augustus which was covered by a domed roof with a gigantic statue of the emperor at the top. Various important personalities were buried there before Augustus in 14 AD. Over the centuries, like many other ancient monuments, it underwent several strippings and the most disparate uses, for example, a roof garden, theater and various other shows. In this period it is undergoing a considerable conservative restoration and together with the square it will become an important place to make everyone experience its archaeological beauty. 2) The new arrangement of the ARA PACIS Museum (2006) in its linear form and in its white travertine garment is a worthy custody of the admirable work it contains. Another important note, today is the only contemporary architectural work built in the heart of Rome after the Second World War. The altar of the ARA PACIS was dedicated to the "Augusta peace", the decree for its construction was issued in 13 BC. His life was not exactly easy and already after the second century AD, he was in bad condition, also due to the continuous flooding of the Tiber. Unfortunately over the centuries, many pieces were dispersed in various museums in Rome, Florence, Paris, etc. Starting from the nineteenth century, several scholars were concerned with cataloging the dispersed works and certifying the original form of the monument and only in 1938 did the material composition, as far as possible even with reconstructions, take place as we can admire it today. 3) The square is completed by the three large buildings, called INPS, which close three sides of the square, the buildings were adorned with gigantic polychrome mosaics, fountains and with Latin inscriptions. The gigantic 70 square meter mosaic where the myth of the origin of Rome is celebrated is to be noted in the largest building in the square facing north.

PIAZZA AUGUSTO IMPERATORE AND BVLGARI VIDEO MAPPING Piazza Augusto Imperatore is located in Rome, in the Campo Marzio district. It was built in 1937 to enhance the Mausoleum of Augustus. The latter is a funerary monument, dating back to the 1st century BC, where the Emperor Augustus was buried there. In 2017, the TIM Foundation oversaw a project for the restoration of the monument. The interventions ended in 2020 and from 1 March 2021 the monument was reopened to the public by reservation. BVLGARI VIDEO MAPPING The birth of Rome was celebrated by the prestigious Maison Bvlgari, giving a tribute to Piazza Augusto Imperatore. From 21 April 2021, for a few months, every day at sunset, it is possible to see the video mapping event, in front of the Mausoleum of Augustus. It is the representation of the rebirth of nature.

It is among the lesser known squares of the city. The current layout, as well as the buildings that surround it, date back to the Fascist period. The square takes its name from the Mausoleum of the first emperor which is located in the center. The archaeological excavation works are currently nearing completion with a new arrangement of the spaces.