033.

Piazza del Colosseo

Apart from ancient ruins this space was mostly surrounded by vigne (farms), so it is hard to think of it as a piazza in the urban sense. In fact Nolli does not list it as a piazza, but simply labels the Colosseum (1) by name. One might find a reason for Vasi's inclusion of this space in his Piazze volume in the fact that none of his ten Magnificenze volumes are dedicated specifically to ancient Roman ruins. Not wanting to leave out what had become the very symbol of the city, he included the Colosseum in this volume. Vasi chose his point of view so as to exhibit the most intact side of the much damaged 1st century amphitheater. The ragged edge of its outer ring had not yet been buttressed to prevent further damage (this was done in 1828 under Leo XII). The early 4th century Arch of Constantine (2) stands out clearly at the center of the print with the (since demolished) Meta Sudans fountain to its right. In the distance, between the Colosseum and the arch, can be dimly seen three arches of the Neronian branch of the Claudian aqueduct, which once carried water to the Palatine hill, seen on the right. On this hill Vasi picks out the church and convent of S. Bonaventura (4). At the extreme right edge of the print we see one of the two back-to-back apses of the double temple of Venus and Rome, built by Hadrian (117-138 AD), which Vasi simply refers to as "ancient ruins in the gardens of S. Maria la Nuova" (3), see Plate 32, and which Nolli identifies as "the temple thought to be of Isis and Serapis."