The Savelli Ruins on the Aventine Hill

Title

The Savelli Ruins on the Aventine Hill

Subject

Houses and Gardens

Description

During the Middle Ages there was a general movement towards habitation along the Tiber, partly because the climate allowed for less flooding of the river and partly because of a need for water due to the lack of working aqueducts. However, there is not much evidence of powerful families residing in the abitato. Rather, most seemed to have retreated to the hills, where they found more land for their mansions and fortifications. For example, the Savelli family held power over the Aventine Hill, where ruins of one of their fortresses remain, the Rocca Savelli.

The Aventine, which overlooks the Tiber, Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Ponte Rotto, was a preferred part of Rome to which families retreated. The Savelli family was very influential in the 12th and 13th centuries, they were considered as the rulers of Rome because of their charismatic characteristics, their proximity to the people in regards to where they were located, their financial status and their connection to the senate. The fortress is said to have been built as late as 1285-1287, however there is documentation as early as 1279 of Pope Honorius IV (a member of the Savelli family) listing the fortress in his will. Sources from the 15th century show that the neighboring church, Santa Sabina, was given part of a Savelli fortress, where Pope Honorius IV once held his papal residence. However, today only the walls of Rocca Savelli remain and enclose a public garden filled with orange trees and a great view of Rome. The Clivo di Rocca Savella show these walls clearly as you walk up the Aventine towards the Church of Santa Sabina.

Abstract

During the Middle Ages, there was a general movement towards habitation along the Tiber, partly because the climate allowed for less flooding of the river and partly because of a need for water due to the lack of working aqueducts. However, there is not much evidence of powerful families residing in the abitato, rather, most seemed to have retreated to the hills, where they found more land for their mansions and fortifications.

Creator

Shweta Bhatia (2016)

Source

Brentano, Robert. Rome Before Avignon: A Social History of Thirteenth Century Rome. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1990.

Krautheimer, Richard. Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Lloyd, Joan Barclay. “Medieval Dominican Architecture at Santa Sabina in Rome.” British School at Rome. 72(2004): 231-292.

Identifier

savelliruins_2015

Coverage

1200s

Spatial Coverage

Clivo di Rocca Savella, 1, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Description

During the Middle Ages there was a general movement towards habitation along the Tiber, partly because the climate allowed for less flooding of the river and partly because of a need for water due to the lack of working aqueducts. However, there is not much evidence of powerful families residing in the abitato. Rather, most seemed to have retreated to the hills, where they found more land for their mansions and fortifications. For example, the Savelli family held power over the Aventine Hill, where ruins of one of their fortresses remain, the Rocca Savelli.

The Aventine, which overlooks the Tiber, Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Ponte Rotto, was a preferred part of Rome to which families retreated. The Savelli family was very influential in the 12th and 13th centuries, they were considered as the rulers of Rome because of their charismatic characteristics, their proximity to the people in regards to where they were located, their financial status and their connection to the senate. The fortress is said to have been built as late as 1285-1287, however there is documentation as early as 1279 of Pope Honorius IV (a member of the Savelli family) listing the fortress in his will. Sources from the 15th century show that the neighboring church, Santa Sabina, was given part of a Savelli fortress, where Pope Honorius IV once held his papal residence. However, today only the walls of Rocca Savelli remain and enclose a public garden filled with orange trees and a great view of Rome. The Clivo di Rocca Savella show these walls clearly as you walk up the Aventine towards the Church of Santa Sabina.

Creator

Shweta Bhatia (2016)

Coverage

1200s

Source

Brentano, Robert. Rome Before Avignon: A Social History of Thirteenth Century Rome. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1990.

Krautheimer, Richard. Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Lloyd, Joan Barclay. “Medieval Dominican Architecture at Santa Sabina in Rome.” British School at Rome. 72(2004): 231-292.

Geolocation