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The “poem in marble”
Built in 9 BC and used as a temple for sacrificing sacred animals, the Ara Pacis is one of the most significant monuments of ancient Rome. It is an altar placed inside an enclosed Carrara marble structure, decorated with reliefs, including some depicting the procession of Augustus’ family and various allegories related to the foundation of Rome.
The Ara Pacis represents one of the finest examples of classical Augustan art. A true “poem in marble”, this is an immortal hymn to the glory of the emperor and a good omen for the greatness of Rome.
In 1995, the modern building that houses the Museum of the Ara Pacis on the Lungotevere in Augusta was inaugurated to protect the work from the dangers of damp and pollution that had threatened it for decades. The structure consists of a long glass loggia on a raised floor that creates a transparent barrier between the riverside and the circular perimeter. The space hosts temporary exhibitions and a digital library of Augustinian culture. Nearby, you can visit the Fontana Ara Pacis and a little further on, Castel Sant’Angelo.
