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Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Campagnano di Roma: the “new” street, noble coats of arms and ancient secrets
Corso Vittorio Emanuele is Campagnano di Roma’s high street, the beating heart of the town, with restaurants and places of entertainment. This straight, tree-lined street was created in the 16th century as Borgo Paolino, and is one of the main things to see in Campagnano. The ambitious project sought to connect the town to Rome, whose history is anything but straight.
An unfinished ducal project
The idea was conceived in 1560 by Paolo Giordano Orsini. Newly appointed Duke, he set out to create a modern, prestigious street, but his plan stalled almost immediately. For roughly 150 years, the "new borough" remained an open-air building site, with only a handful of buildings sketched into existence, such as Palazzo Chiatti, and the Porta Romana still unfinished. It was a half-realised dream.
The Chigi legacy and a mystery from ancient Rome
It was the Chigi family, the new lords from 1661 onwards, who completed the work, encouraging the construction of the palazzi we see today, with their coats of arms and dates carved above the doorways. But the real secret lies at number 38. In a courtyard, an inscription in Greek reads "it is outside the Town" — a Jewish funerary formula from the Roman era. This was perhaps an ancient artefact repurposed as a decorative element.
The corso is a public street, accessible at all times. For events such as the Palio degli Asini (Donkey Race) or the Renaissance Historical Procession, it is advisable to consult the website of the Pro Loco or the Comune di Campagnano di Roma for updated dates.
