HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Within the narrow confines of this neighborhood, which takes its name from the column of Marcus Aurelius (also known as Antonine, from the emperor's family name), can be found some of the loveliest squares in the historic center: from Piazza del Pantheon to Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina, from Piazza di Pietra to Piazza Montecitorio, to Piazza Colonna. The columns of the temple of Hadrian have come down to us from classical times. The zone was densely populated in the Middle Ages, especially in the low-lying area around Via del Corso, with its modest housing and churches. The higher part towards the Pincio, known in ancient times as the "collis hortulorum", was occupied by vineyards and orchards, which gave their name to the church built in that zone, Sant'Andrea delle Fratte ("fratta" meaning "thicket"). The 16th century saw the construction of new apartments, palaces and villas and, thanks in particular to the intervention of Sixtus V, the development of a new street plan. The area near the Pincio has remained more or less unchanged over time, while the lower part underwent a series of transformations between the late 19th and early 20th century: the extension of Palazzo Montecitorio practically canceled out the surrounding urban fabric, radically changing the face of the neighborhood.
NOT TO BE MISSED
The neighborhood is dominated by the imposing Palazzo di Montecitorio, which replaced the 16th-century Palazzo Gaddi. The work is partly of Bernini and partly of Fontana, who resumed the task after a long interruption. Since 1871 it has been the seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Unfortunately, the frescoed houses and the church of San Biagio, which originally stood in the square, were demolished at the end of the 17th century, so that the building work on the Palace could be completed. A short distance away stands Palazzo Capranica, an admirable example of the early Roman Renaissance. The palace also houses a cinema, the oldest in the city. It was created in 1678 as a theater, which saw its period of greatest splendor in the 18th century; after restoration work in the 19th century, it was transformed into a cinema in 1922. One sight in the Colonna neighborhood that the visitor must definitely not miss is the church of Sant'Andrea della Fratte: the hand of Borromini stands out from the other interventions through the ages (the original structure dates back to the 12th century), and can be clearly seen in the apse, the tambour of the dome and the extraordinary campanile, with its rich variety of orders and ornaments.
CURIOUS FACTS
The higher ground of this neighborhood was called "ad caput domorum" because until the 17th century this was where the residential area came to an end and the countryside began, a fact which is recalled in the name of Via "Capo le Case". In this street, at number 56, Saint Theresa of Lisieux stayed in 1887 during a pilgrimage to Rome with her father and sister. Her room became a chapel which was subsequently deconsecrated: the altar was transferred to the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, in Piazza della Repubblica.
