The Arch of Constantine, or Arco di Constantino in Italian, was built by the famous emperor Constantine to commemorate his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 315 CE. It's the most recent triumphal arch still existing in Rome, and has some unique characteristics that most others lack.
The arch is an impressive twenty one meters high, twenty-five and a half meters wide and nearly seven and a half meters deep, sporting three distinctive archways. The center one is eleven and a half meters wide and six and a half meters wide, and is the largest of the set, flanked by smaller arches.
The arch's design is very similar to that of the Arch of Septimus Severus, which is located on the Roman Forum. Both arches have a main section sporting detached columns and an upper portion, which is referred to as an attic and which sports an inscription.
A visit to the Arch of Constantine is an easy thing to do while in Rome, since the arch itself spans the Via Triumphalis - the road used by victorious emperors on their way back to Rome. Constantine's choice of this area to locate his arch tells us a lot about the message he wanted to send to rivals.
The arch is near to the Colossum, and can be easily visited by taking the Metro. It's easy to add the Arch of Constantine into a tour of the ancient ruins of Rome, too, since there are many in this part of the city.
Depending on the angle and lighting you're viewing the arch from, you may notice that some parts are a different color, and that it looks like it's made out of different kinds of stone.
That's because other monuments were used in the construction of the Arch of Constantine, including pieces used almost in their entirety of the lower part of the arch. The finished piece was made up of other architecture.
The lower part is made from marble blocks, but the attic is made of bricks, covered in marble. There's a staircase in the thickness of the arch, but it's some distance from the ground, suggesting that the original monument may have been situated differently.
Some have theorized that this borrowing from other monuments was done to speed up construction. Others have said that it was done because the builders lacked the skill to build the entire arch on its own. It's hard to say exactly why the arch is made of "recycled architecture", but it's one more interesting detail for visitors to see.
The arch itself was incorporated into a Medieval family stronghold, becoming part of another structure. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that excavation and restoration started, and it was kept up until the late 1990s.
Your trip to Rome will probably include a number of ancient structures, so don't forget to include the Arch of Constantine. While you're near the Colossum, take a few moments to appreciate this interesting piece of Rome's history.
The arch is an impressive twenty one meters high, twenty-five and a half meters wide and nearly seven and a half meters deep, sporting three distinctive archways. The center one is eleven and a half meters wide and six and a half meters wide, and is the largest of the set, flanked by smaller arches.
The arch's design is very similar to that of the Arch of Septimus Severus, which is located on the Roman Forum. Both arches have a main section sporting detached columns and an upper portion, which is referred to as an attic and which sports an inscription.
A visit to the Arch of Constantine is an easy thing to do while in Rome, since the arch itself spans the Via Triumphalis - the road used by victorious emperors on their way back to Rome. Constantine's choice of this area to locate his arch tells us a lot about the message he wanted to send to rivals.
The arch is near to the Colossum, and can be easily visited by taking the Metro. It's easy to add the Arch of Constantine into a tour of the ancient ruins of Rome, too, since there are many in this part of the city.
Depending on the angle and lighting you're viewing the arch from, you may notice that some parts are a different color, and that it looks like it's made out of different kinds of stone.
That's because other monuments were used in the construction of the Arch of Constantine, including pieces used almost in their entirety of the lower part of the arch. The finished piece was made up of other architecture.
The lower part is made from marble blocks, but the attic is made of bricks, covered in marble. There's a staircase in the thickness of the arch, but it's some distance from the ground, suggesting that the original monument may have been situated differently.
Some have theorized that this borrowing from other monuments was done to speed up construction. Others have said that it was done because the builders lacked the skill to build the entire arch on its own. It's hard to say exactly why the arch is made of "recycled architecture", but it's one more interesting detail for visitors to see.
The arch itself was incorporated into a Medieval family stronghold, becoming part of another structure. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that excavation and restoration started, and it was kept up until the late 1990s.
Your trip to Rome will probably include a number of ancient structures, so don't forget to include the Arch of Constantine. While you're near the Colossum, take a few moments to appreciate this interesting piece of Rome's history.
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