CHANGES IN ROME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 845, 13 December 1929, Page 10

CHANGES IN ROME

HOUSES GIVE WAY'TO j MONUMENTS NEW FASCIST PLANS The centre of Rome is being ener- \ jetically attacked by the spade and pickaxe of archaeologists. Fortner visitors to the Eternal City will be startled by the radical changes that have been made, says a London “Daily Express" correspondent. When the owner of an ancient red square building opposite the Capitol was told that by the decision of the archaeological committee his house was doomed, he had a heart seizure from which he is only slowly recovering. There is something pathetic in the lot of those people who, because of archaeological necessities are compelled to leave their homes. Money cannot heal their sorrow, especially as these buildings are old and what the owners receive is little in comparison with the sentimental loss. According to the Fascist plan the most important Roman monuments are to be entirely cleansed from the mushroom growth of old tumbledown houses which have grown round the ancient foundations of temples, pillars and columns. Work has been started which will radically change the aspect of the centre of Rome. All buildings behind the Capitol are being pulled down. The Tarpeian Rock, a famous stronghold from which traitors to the Fatherland were hurled, will be completely isolated. When, in a few months, work will be carried out. from the top of the Capitol it will be possible to see the Colosseum and the Marcellus Theatre, which will also be freed from all later constructions near it and restored. The Marcellus Theatre is one of the oldest of Roman theatres —older than the Colosseum. Demolitions are being carried out round the Trajan Forum, parts of which have been uncovered. A wide road will soon be opened linking the Trajan Forum with the Colosseum. Thus that most imposing of the Roman monuments will be visible from the centre of Rome. Narrow lanes with clothes hanging out to dry aild windows adorned with flower pots, which now look like a Neapolitan quarter transplanted to Rome, will soon be of the past. Two characteristic places will disappear with them: the famous Ulpia Restaurant and the Tarpeian Rock Tavern. The Ulpia Restaurant in the Trajan Forunt was a heathen basilica turned into a Bohemian night resort, favoured by artists and foreigners. The furniture and decorations were so cleverly chosen and arranged that

the illusion that the place was a pagan temple was complete. The Tarpeian Rock Tavern was a three-storeyed subterranean cavern dug out of the Capitol hill. Nobody knows what old Romans did with it, -but modern Romans found that the place was admirably suited to keep wine fresh and to drink liberally as their forefathers did. These two places will add their ruins to ruins, and perhaps it is a pity, as Rome is full of ruins. Moreover, Ulpia fried artichokes and Tarpeian Rock dry wine were such living things that it will be impossible to substitute them by archaeological relics.