Portico of Octavia — Attraction in Rome

The complex of the Portico d'Ottavia is the only one preserved of the large porticoes that limited the square of the "Circo Flaminio" on the northern side. This area today corresponds to the ancient Ghetto. Between 27 and 23 BC, it was rebuilt by Augustus, in place of the oldest Portico of Metellus, and dedicated to his sister Ottavia.It was later restored and partially rebuilt in 203 by Septimius Severus, after a fire in 191, a period to which most of the currently visible remains belong.The complex, a four-sided portico of 119 x 132 meters, included the "Temple of Juno Regina", which was then joined by the "Temple of Jupiter Stator", the first in Rome entirely in marble, two libraries, Greek and Latin, and the Curia Octaviae, a large public meeting space. Today, only the south-eastern corner and the entrance vestibule of the complex remain.In ancient times, its interior was a sort of open-air museum, because it housed a large number of artworks, such as the turma Alexandri, a bronze work depicting Alexander the Great and his knights, created by Lysippos.In the Late Antique and Medieval Age, the porticoed spaces of the monument were used for the sale of fish, characterizing this area as "Forum piscium" or "Pescheria Vecchia", the main city fish market that remained active until the end of the 800. The stone to be found to the right of the Portico’s great arch is all that has survived. The Latin inscription on the arch speaks of the tradition whereby the Conservatori or Magistrates of the Capitoline Hill should be given every fish, from the head down to the first fin, whose length was longer than this stone.In the last quarter of the 8th century, the spaces of the church of S. Angelo in Pescheria were built on the structures of the Portico and the adjacent monuments, incorporating one of the rear columns and part of the tympanum, still visible inside the church.It was from the Portico of Octavia that, in 1347, Mid-14th century Politician Cola di Rienzo set out to conquer the Capitoline Hill on the day of Pentecost. The monument is now accessible through a ramp (also accessible by disabled people) in the continuation of Via del Portico d'Ottavia in front of the entrance columns and a staircase connecting the area to the entrance of the church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria and to a small passage that allows connection with the buildings in via di Foro Piscario and the nearby Teatro...

The portico was an impressive, monumental passageway. 119 meters wide and 132 meters long, it was larger than a football field! It was probably clad entirely in marble, and its interior undoubtedly housed many works of art. Only a few decorations remain visible on the walls of surrounding houses, including various parts of the monument, capitals, and an architrave. According to an inscription, Septimius Severus and Caracalla were responsible for another important restoration at the complex in 204 A.D. And in the 5thcentury, the portico was reconfigured because of an earthquake. This time, the entrance columns were replaced with a large arch, and a church dedicated to St. Paul was built, which later became Sant'Angelo in Pescheria. The name comes from the fact that from the Middle Ages through the late 1800s, the area just below the arch was a fish market. Curiously, the Medieval Latin inscription on the side of the arch advises that fish with heads and fins longer than the marble slab must be given to the Custodians. In the Middle Ages, the Via del Portico d'Ottavia became part of the pilgrim route. Because of its proximity to Tiber bridges and possible enemy access points, many buildings in this area were fortified. One of these was the Theatre of Marcellus, across from the Portico. In the 13th century, an important event changed the destiny of this area: the Roman Jewish Community began to move here from Trastevere. In 1555, following the example set by Venice, Pope Paul IV issued a Papal bull that established this area as the Jewish Ghetto, making it mandatory for Roman Jews to live here. The area was enclosed by walls and became so densely populated that the palazzos were tightly packed side by side. Built up to 6 or 7 stories high, they began to spill over into the streets. This overcrowding led to a...

The Portico of Octavia is a striking reminder of Rome’s layered history, blending grandeur with the quiet decay of time. Built in 27 BCE by Emperor Augustus and dedicated to his sister Octavia Minor, it was once a bustling center of cultural and religious life, housing libraries, temples, and even the Roman Senate at times. The surviving structure still holds much of its majesty. The fluted Corinthian columns, though weathered and partially restored, command attention, supporting an elegant entablature inscribed with references to the emperors who maintained it. The brick and marble archways evoke a sense of strength, softened by the gentle sunlight that dances on the ancient stones. The portico’s later history adds complexity to its narrative. After falling into disrepair, it was repurposed in the Middle Ages as part of the local fish market, and its walls still carry the weight of centuries...