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Ettore Roesler Franz
and Bygone Rome
Margana Tower




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The Tiber By Marmorata




The eastern bank in the southern part of the river's course (the Tiber Island is just beyond the bend in the far left of the picture) has always been known with the ancient name of Marmorata, because in roman times this was the place where marbles (in Latin marmora) were gathered, after having been carried by ship from Africa, Asia and other settlements. Also the Horrea, the huge warehouses for goods of all kinds, stood not far from this spot. Being used for storage purposes rather than for residence, the whole area has always been scantily inhabited.
Still in the 1800s only poor houses of fishermen were to be found here and, despite being located within the city walls, the place really looked as a suburban district.
Roesler Franz's painting shows the desolated yet picturesque riverside. Its unpaved road was almost at the same level of the water [1], with no protection; in the case of high tide, the slums in the background [2] would have easily been submerged up to the first floor, or above.


Senator's Palace and Milizie Tower
Far away in the distance two towers [3] rise above the low skyline: they are (from the left) the one belonging to Senators Palace, i.e. Rome's Town Hall on Capitolium Hill, and the medieval Milizie Tower at the back of Trajan's markets.

Today the district is still scarsely inhabited, but much busier than once, and the overall look of the place is much more lively. The street level has considerably risen, after the making of the protective walls, which keep the actual river bank separated, about 8 metres below.
Despite the trees, the two towers are still visible in the distance: after all, despite the many alterations, at least Rome's skyline has luckily never changed much.



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