When the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino looks out of his office window from the Capitoline Hill (pictured above), the material remnants of a rich and profound history stretch as far as the eye can see. In the foreground is where Marc Antony addressed the Roman Senate after the assassination of Julius Caesar. In the distance is the Arch of Constantine, which celebrates the defeat of Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Next to that lies the eternal colosseum, whose myriad soot soaked eyes peek out at a city that has grown in and among the ruins of the progenitor of Western Civilization – like fresh green shoots bursting from ancient volcanic soil.
We were very honored to host Mayor Marino at the Consulate last night where a crowd gathered to discuss the future of Rome’s fabled archeological wealth. As the Mayor put it, these treasures are not only Rome’s, but also belong to the world at large. They embody the impact the Eternal City has made in the unfolding of all modern civilization. The cultural heritage of Rome – and UNESCO would agree – is very much world cultural heritage. We all share the responsibility to care for these priceless cultural heirlooms.
Yet, the Mayor wasn’t there to talk about the famous monuments of Rome. He was there to share what could be the evolution of the Roman architectural landscape. To a hushed audience, the Mayor presented several until-now-unseen archaeological treasures of Rome and appealed to his audience to help him restore them and open their doors to the world.
From the Cryptoporticus in Trajan’s Baths and “Sette Sale” Cistern on the Oppian Hill to the Ludus Magnus, the Gladiator barracks next to the Colosseum, the Mayor laid out a bold plan of restoration that, if enacted, would revolutionize the archaeological fabric of the Eternal City. Indeed, Mayor Marino has already made several important achievements such as banning cars from the base of the Spanish Steps and the area directly next to the Colloseum. Yet, what he is now pioneering would be transformational. For example, he would like to remodel the Via dei Fori Imperiali – a road constructed by Mussolini in the 30’s which divides the Roman Forum from the Forum of Augustus – and the ancient Via Alessandrina, thus returning the center of Rome to its original harmony and pedestrian accessibility. Mayor Marino also wants to take the Mausoleum of Augustus, the largest rotund tomb in the world, and retrofit the structure so it can open its doors wide to the world.
(Rendering of Plans for Mausoleum of Augustus)
In his effort to further beautify Rome, Mayor Marino also took advantage of his visit to San Francisco to tour the Italian-founded innovative recycling company Recology. Recology has not only launched some of the most innovative recycling programs on the planet, but it has also done some very interesting work in the waste-to-energy arena. Mayor Marino, keen to turn Rome into a zero-waste city, was eager to learn about Recology’s techniques and apply them in Rome. It will be exciting to see this new San Francisco Italian bond grow into the future.
(Mayor Marino at Recology)
Mayor Marino pointed out that naysayers discouraged him from making his initial investments in restoring Rome’s architecture. They believed it would be a fantastic waste of public resources. Yet, what has emerged is quite the opposite: investments in Roman architecture not only quickly generate profit proceeds for the city, but also allow the world to plunge themselves more deeply in the history of a city that is foundational to world heritage. In short, we get a better look at our own DNA.
As the Mayor closed his talk he remarked, “We must not only work so next generations can see what we see today, but also so they can see what we cannot see today.” Indeed, with over 100,000 archaeological treasures in storage and hundreds of sites unexcavated, Rome is bursting with unseen treasures that will enrich today and tomorrow’s world.
Want to help the Mayor realize his vision? He would love your help. Reach out to us at the Consulate (it.sanfrancisco@esteri.it) for more information about how you can get involved.