The Via Labicana connects is one of the main streets leading to the Colosseum in Rome. It is a continuation from the Viale Manzoni and ends at the Piazza del Colosseo. Main attractions along the street are the Colle Oppio Park and the Ludus Magnus.
The ancient Via Labicana
The Via Labicana owes its name to ancient, no longer existing, Roman street. The old road started at the Roman Forum and led to the Porta Esquilina (now known as Arco di Gallieno) in the Servian Wall. After the construction of the Aurelian Wall, it continued to the Porta Maggiore, to follow the current route of the Via Prenestina, the Via del Pigneto and finally the Via Casilina. Outside the city, it skirted Frascati (then called Tusculum) and joined the Via Latina at Labicum, of which there are no traces left, but which is upposed to have been near present day Monte Compatri.
What to see in modern day Via Labicana
The current Via Labicana is in a different location from the old one. It was constructed toward the end of the 19th century.
Church of the Santi Marcellino e Pietro
The Via Labicana is a continuation of the Viale Manzoni. The first point of interest is the Church of the Santi Marcellino e Pietro. Although the church is much older, the current version dates back to the mid-18th century. In 2011, the church was vandalized by a right-wing organization. The entrance is in the Via Merulana.
Museo Vite di IMI
The Museo Vite di IMI (Militari Italiani Internati) takes up a small part of the military barracks (Comprensorio Militare) in the Via Labicana, 15/a. It is dedicated to the 650,000 Italian soldiers, who during World War II refused to collaborate with the occupiers and were sent to the German concentration camps. The museum shows the hardships they had to endure (there were around 50,000 deaths) by means of objects, documents and videos. The Cortile della Memoria exhibits works of art by mostly Italian, but also three German artists. The barracks itself was built in 1751. Booking is mandatory.
Colle Oppio Park
The Colle Oppio Park owes its name of one of Rome’s famous seven hills. Completely redesigned by Raffaele De Vico in the 1920s (the southern part) and Antonio Muñoz in the 1930s (the northern half), the park contains ruins of Nero’s Domus Aurea, the Baths of Titus and the Baths of Trajan.
Casino Guidi
The Casino Guidi (Via Labicana, 125) dates back to the 17th century. The architect, Giovanni Battista Mola, designed it for the Evangelisti family. After this family sold the building, it came into the hands of the brotherhood of the Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini e dei Convalescenti, as documented by two plaques on the facade. In the 18th century, it became property of the Guidi family, who also had it restored. In 2002, it was transformed into the Hotel Palazzo Manfredi.
Ludus Magnus
The visible part of the Ludus Magnus was excavated partly in 1937 and partly in 1960. It was directly connected to the Colosseum by means of an underground hallway. The Ludus Magnus was one of four gladiator schools in the city.
Public transportation Via Labicana
The nearest metro stop is Colosseo (line B, C). Tram lines 3 and 8 run along the street, as well as bus lines 3NAV, 7, 51, 75, 85, 87, C3 and n3d.
Sources
- Mauro Lucentini, The Rome Guide, Step by Step through History’s Greatest City.
- Maria Vittoria Mancinelli, Mara Minasi and Isabella Toffoletti, Museums of Rome (published by the municipality itself).
- Official Museo Vite di IMI website.
Photos
© Renato Prosciutto (unless otherwise indicated).