Rome: the Ara Pacis monument

European capitals? ... ... And why not Italy? ...
And 'This is what I have asked to select the second episode of our travels!
In the years have been many trips that I and Anto have done in our country and especially in nearby Rome.
We visited many cities and ancient architecture which is full of our peninsula, but also different and beautiful modern architecture I want to speak today and for the next "diaries."
This can become, for those who, like me, modern architecture, even during travel.
I want to begin by one of the last visit of the new container ' "Ara Pacis" work done in Rome dall'immenso American architect Richard Meier and opened after many delays just a few months ago.

 

ARA PACIS

The design of the new container, which was to replace the old built in Fascist by Arch. Morpurgo, occurs more than ten years ago. It is situated in the historical center, Piazza Augusto Imperatore, the side where the square, crossing Via di Ripetta, overlooking the Tiber (in fact is the site where up to a century ago there was the port of Ripetta).
The work, as always in Italy, has suffered many delays, delays, interruptions. It 'been the subject of vehement protests (!!!!!), but eventually came to light.
Want to know what you think: it is a work "signed" in the jargon that architects of us means that you understand light years away from what has been architect designed (same style, same color, same material, whatever you put). E ', however, a building well-designed and well built, perfect for the role it should play and above all it greatly enhances the area and the work that has compared to the first ruin.
E ', today, became a meeting place and meeting place for Romans and tourists who took a long staircase built on the entrance and around the fountain and all'obelisco.
Also very interesting is also to visit the relics of the Roman period restored recently (6,00 euro entry). Stocked texts of modern architecture absolutely unavailable in Italy is the library of the complex (to visit, I redid the eyes !!!!). Very interesting is also the beautiful mosaico7x8 meters, designed by Mimmo Paladino, built at the entrance to the auditorium of the complex, but visible from outside (the back).
I must also add that the complex does not end there because soon start work on the Piazza Augusto Imperatore (contest winner, if I remember correctly, by Studio Cellini) and work to bury, with an underpass, the stretch of Lungotevere that in Augusta passes behind the structure in order to rejoin the work through a 'pedestrian area, a garden and cantilevered balconies, with the Tiber.
A must for anyone visiting Rome!
See you soon friends.