Excavation and conservation Ara Pacis

section of interior frieze, showing damaged original section amid modern reconstruction.




in 1568 first fragmentary sculptures rediscovered beneath palazzo peretti in lucina (a.k.a. palazzo fano-almagià), right next basilica san lorenzo in lucina, close via del corso , , have found way villa medici, vatican, uffizi , louvre.
in 1859 further sculptural fragments found in same area under teatro olimpia, part of peretti palace in via in lucina, close italian parliament building, , sculptures recognized having belonged same monument.
in 1903, after friedrich von duhn had recognized reliefs belonged ara pacis (1879–81), known augustus memoir, request sent ministry of public education continue excavations. success made possible generosity of edoardo almagià, who, giving permission exploration, donated in advance whatever should discovered underneath palace , made ongoing financial contribution expenses of excavation; july of year, became clear conditions extremely difficult , stability of teatro olimpia might compromised; when half monument had been examined , 53 fragments recovered, excavation called halt.
in 1909 decided several buildings closely surrounding mausoleum of augustus destroyed bring mausoleum view.
between 1918 , 1921 president of piedmontese society of archaeology , fine arts, oreste mattirolo, first time suggested fragments collected , joined rebuild altar.
in 1932 demolition of buildings surrounding mausoleum, decided in 1909, started, may other demolitions carried on in years in city.
in february 1937, italian cabinet decreed 2000th anniversary of birth of augustus, excavations should recommence, using advanced technology. seventy cubic metres of ground under cinema nuovo olimpia frozen, whilst altar extracted.
the fragments, although not complete, collected , joined rebuild ara; due short time available (job had completed before 23 september 1938, last day of augustean 2000th anniversary), few fragments available , poor historical sources refer restoration (basically couple of ancient roman coins), reconstruction had performed of italian artist odoardo ferretti.

the first protective building housing monument morpurgo architect

in 1938 reconstructed ara placed near mausoleum of augustus, , big pavilion built around architect vittorio ballio morpurgo part of benito mussolini s attempt create ancient roman theme park glorify fascist italy. several dozens of buildings surrounding mausoleum leveled free space around monument. led great number of complaints locals , surrounding city, starting long series of arguments , criticisms of ara pacis project. these arguments ongoing despite having original pavilion replaced new 1 in 2006, known ara pacis museum .

the new protective building housing monument meier architect

the historic fascist style building around altar, locally known teca del morpurgo , pulled down in 2006, , replaced glass , steel structure in modern style, designed architect richard meier. new cover building stands on same site mussolini s structure. new structure named ara pacis museum , bigger previous 1 , divided in multiple rooms , sections besides main 1 containing altar.

meier s building construction caused new arguments , criticism, after ones accompanied first building construction, both rome inhabitants , stranger observers, due both political memory tied pre-existent pavilion , visual impact of new pavilion, in opinion of many in great contrast surrounding historical buildings.

nicolai ouroussoff, of new york times called building “a contemporary expression of can happen when architect fetishizes own style out of sense of self-aggrandizement. absurdly overscale, seems indifferent naked beauty of dense , richly textured city around it.” presiding right-wing mayor gianni alemanno, backed since july 2008 culture undersecretary francesco maria giro said tear down new structure. mayor alemanno has since changed stance on building , has agreed mr. meier modifications including drastically reducing height of wall between open-air space outside museum , busy road along tiber river. city plans build wide pedestrian area along river , run road underneath it. s improvement, says meier, adding reason wall there has traffic , noise. once eliminated, idea of opening piazza river one. mayor’s office said alemanno hopes complete project before end of term in 2013.