This tower characterises the outline of the Trajan Market in the Imperial Fora.
The Torre delle Milizie (Militiae Tower) is one of the oldest and strongest fortified towers in Italy and the largest in Rome.
It is popularly believed that Augustus is buried under the tower and the Nero watched the burning of Rome from the top (here comes the popular nickname of "Nero's Tower").
Actually the tower was built by Pope Gregory IX in the 13th century and probably takes its name from a nearby barracks of Byzantine militia.
The tower is on a square plan, its base sides measure 10.5 x 9.5 m, and it currently stands at almost 50 meters.
Soon after its erection an earthquake in 1348 caused both the crumbling of an upper floor and the tower began sinking on one side, so that Rome, like Pisa, has its leaning tower (see photo).
From the top of the tower there are magnificent views of central Rome and the ancient remains. But currently it is closed (undergoing renovations).
info and booking for Mercati di Traiano (Trajan Market):
+39.06.0608 9.00am-10.30pm
(multilingual)
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Phone: +39.06.0608 (multilingual)
Address: Via Quattro Novembre, 94 - Rome
Directions: Near Piazza Venezia, across the street (Via dei Fori Imperiali) from Imperial Fora.
Website: http://en.mercatiditraiano.it/
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on Apr 18, 2008
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