Works like David, the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes and Last Judgment are among some of the best known works of Michelangelo. We knew him as a painter and sculptor primarily but his architectural works are less known or familiar. Some of his greatest architectural works can be found at St. Peter’s Basilica where Michelangelo was head architect for a number of years, up until his death. However, there is one site in Rome that many tourists pass daily without ever realizing they had stood in a space created by a renaissance master. 

The space I’m referring to is on top of the Capitoline Hill and rises directly in front of Rome’s ancient Forum which are  now mostly in ruins. Before Michelangelo was called to redesign the grounds the ancient foundation of the building once used by senators still stood. Today these are office buildings that overlook the Forum. Also standing was the Palazzo dei Conservatori whose facade Michelangelo was commissioned to redesign. But he realized that the vast piazza that lay before the Senate building and the conservatory would still be an unfinished and miss proportioned space after he finished his work. Instead, he decided to construct an entirely new building, the Museo Capitolino (not a museum but rather office buildings) and position its angel the same as the opposite conservatory. The entire space was now structured in the shape of a trapezoid with the piazza positioned centrally. 

Michelangelo was also responsible for the oval shaped piazza that now sits in front of the three buildings. It’s distinguishable by the lines running through the ground as well as the ancient work of art that sits in the center. This statue is the only bronze equestrian statue to survive ancient Rome and be rediscovered. It depicts the 2nd century (C.E.) Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on horse back. It was re-located to this spot by the same pope commissioning Michelangelo. For many years after the statue was discovered, it was thought to depict emperor Constantine who was responsible for legalizing Christianity in Rome. For Catholics the statue represented the emperor who allowed Christianity to reign supreme. Although interpretations were wrong, the statue still sits in its location in the middle of Michelangelo’s piazza and faces out towards the Vatican.

So when in Rome, be sure to visit the Capitoline hill. It’s an amazing space the incorporates art spanning from ancient to renaissance times.