Campus Martius

Campus Martius is the historic center of Rome. Various tourist attractions such as the Pantheon, the·Trevi Fountain·and the Spanish Steps are all found in this area. Previously called the Mars Field, the Campus runs from the east and west of Quirinal and Tiber and its north-south axis at the Capitoline hills and Porta Flaminia. Formerly a great neighborhood, the Mars Field was later divided into several smaller neighborhoods.

• Campo Marzio

• Trevi

• Colonna

• Ponte

• Parione

• Regola

• Sant’Eustachio

• IX Pigna

The Field of Mars

In the time of Ancient Rome, the Field of Mars was no more than a soggy field that lay outside the city walls. The field is named after the god of war – Mars. The Roman army used this as a practice field. Hence, they named it after the god of war, Mars. In addition, the field was used as a pasture by private individuals. They left their sheep and horses grazing in the field. Later, this area was used to celebrate victories of the army.

At the time when Rome began to urbanize more and more, all the emperors of Rome deemed it necessary to build something there. Henceforth, a multitude of houses, temples, theaters, baths and other infrastructures including the amphitheater were built in the campus until it became what it is now.

It was only during the reign of Augustus that Campus Martius was recognized as a territory of Rome.