TRAJAN'S MARKETS in ROME

"THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING"

TRAJAN'S MARKET IN ROME - UPPER PART

Traiano had been Emperor of Rome from 98 to 117 CE succeding to Nerva who governed only 2 years after Domiziano, Titus' brother. Trajan was a general when he was nominated emperor and was busy with a war against Germans so that it took to him 2 years to come to Rome to receive the title form

MEDIEVAL HOUSES

the Senatus. Trajan's election signed the beginning of a new golden period for Rome. He surely was a brave commander as during his control managed to move the borders of the empire where no one arrived before, neither Cesare and Augusto. He fought and won in Mesopotamia and Assiria arriving till the Indian Ocean and in his intentions he should have arrived further if he had not been already old. Coming back from easter provinces died in Selino and to Rome arrived but his ashes that was buried at the bottom of the beautiful Trajan's column, a masterpiece commemorating the wars against Daci in 101 and 107 CE. Nevertheless Trajan had been also an intelligent administrator inaugurating some iportant public works as the famous anphiteathre in Verona, a new port in Ostia, a new acqueduct, his Foro and what today is known as the Trajan's Markets in Rome.
Trajan's Markets had been built by Apollodoro, a genial architect who always followed Trajan in his adventures, at the beginning of II century A.D.. During the middle age the complex was transformed adding some floor still visible today and building some defensive elements as the Torre delle Milizie built in 1200. Also a convent was later built in this area and demolished at the beginning of XX cent. to give back to the city of Rome the Trajan's Markets in their original aspect.
The entrance is in via IV Novembre as once was and immediately the visitor enter into a shopping area disposed on two different

TRAJAN'S MARKET IN ROME - LOWER PART

levels where it was distributed wheat for free to the people of Rome. At the end of this hall a large balcony offers a beautiful view on the markets, Trajan's Forum and Vittoriano. Really this is not a balcony but a part of the Via Biberatica (from biber meaninig drink, as here there were some taverns and grocer's shops) that starts from the entrance and cut in two part the Trakjan's Market. The upper part was surely used for offices while the lower part in front of the Trajan's Forum had expecially shops selling oil, wines, seafood, groceries, vegetables and fruits. The upper part shows medieval houses on the top part facing the semicircolar part of the via Biberatica. The lower part shows today two floors: a ground floor level composed by shops with entry made in travertino, a white stone, surmounted by an arch. The second level was formed by adjoined shops selling wines and oil. A third level, today visible only by some walls, appeared at the via Biberatica and probably was used for grocer's shops. On the lower part there're also two big halls probably used for audition or concerts.

Opening hours: Daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter). The box-office closes 30' hour before. Closed on Monday and Jan 1st, May 1st, Dec 25th.
Tickets: FULL 6.20 €. REDUCED 4,20 € (European Union citizens between 18 and 25 years old; - European Union teachers of State schools only by showing valid membership card);

"SOME PICS and TORRE DELLE MILIZIE HISTORY"

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM
TORRE delle MILIZIE	3rd FLOOR	EXTERIOR	SHOPS	VIA BIBERATICA	INTERIOR

Torre delle Milizie - It stands right behind the Trajan's Markets. The legend wants this is the tower from where Emperor Nero saw Rome burning but obviously it's just a legend as the tower has been buit in XII cent. Once it got three levels but the upper part collapsed the 9th of September 1348.
Trajan's Market have always been a requested area in Rome since the time of barbarian invasions when the place was occupied by Vandals and later by Byzantine army. But in the middle age the area was fortified (hence the tower) and owned by Annibaldi family that in fact had the title of "Dominus de Militis". Later the place was sold to Caetani family and also enlarged becoming with Castel Sant'Angelo one of the safer place in Rome. For this reason Emperor Arrigo VII wanted to stay here during his visit to Rome when he came to be crowned by the Pope. Later the tower passed to Conti family that kept it till 1572. Then the tower passed to the Vatican that built here the Convent of Santa Chiara.