WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE HOTEL SURROUNDINGS
 From
the Republican era even the Villa Publica (central zone of the Campo
Marzio, included between the Circo Flaminio and the complex of the
Saepta and of the out-buildings) which, beyond carrying the function of
public park, was also the centre of some quinquennial centuring
functions and in the interior of which rose the sacred area of the
Argentina square it began to be occupied by temples, porches and by
other monumental edifices.
In the course of the 5th century the northern porch was restored, may
be destroyed by an earthquake and the passages between the pilasters
which marked the oriental limit of the area were risen by about 60
centimeters. Other great transformations during the same period were
made : near the area sacra, where was established the complex destined
to the welcoming of poor people and pilgrims. In the first years of the
6th century the Area Sacra underwent a deep transformation from which
little has remained of that period.
 Anyhow
the passages between the pilasters of the oriental limit were closed,
isolating the area toward the exterior thus losing the character of
public place. Were closed also the intercomuns of the small northern
porch which became a covered corridor. The structures between the
temples were covered with a flooring in travertine on which were
erected rooms lined up along a corridor.
In front of the temple, was built a large rectangular hall divided in
two by a line of pilasters and with a long bench which extended along
the walls. This complex, perhaps, was a monastery and the small rooms
along the side of the temple , and behind another temple probably were
monk sells. May be the oratory of the monastery was founded in the
first one, where, during the following centuries would be built a
church.
In fact the edifice in the interior of the sacred area probably was an
ancient monastery as quoted in the 'Liber Pontificalis', "monasterium
Boetianum', may be linked with the philosopher Boezio.
To the successive phase of transformation of the VIII-IX century the
structures may be were residences of the aristocratic people and
changed the structure of the area which no more lived as an unitarian
complex.
The caroline age represents the moment of the breaking off of the plan
inherited by the ancient city with the creation of the net work of
streets, squares and lanes of the new city. To the same period must be
ascribed the first archeological proofs of the installation of a church
in the interior of the A temple. The foundation of the apse is infact
built in the same technique in tufo blocks the used again of the other
structures ot that phase, and also the semi-annular crypt has a
characteristic typology of the churches datable at the caroline age.
The district, as always in the medieval city, was characterized by a
great social promiscuity, on account of which craftsmen, merchants and
aristocrats lived side by side, naturally they were distinguished by
the wealth in respective houses.
In the middle ages the church, once a temple, underwent many
alterations: to the 1132 is attributed the actual lay out of the apse
and of presbytero, the altar is still visible, the frescoes of the
apsis and a restructuration of the crypt. In the XIVth century the
church was enlarged and was created the small lateral apse and the
abandon of the crypt. In 1132 the church was dedicated to Saint Nicolas
whose cult was propagated at that time in Italy.
|
Click to find where we are and how to get to Hotel 
