59 ROME SILENT BEAUTY THE CAPITOL IS TRULY THE HEART OF ROME. LOCATED HERE IS THE SEAT OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA IN ARA COELI, AND THE VITTORIANO, THE MUCH-DEBATED MONUMENT BUILT AFTER THE UNIFICATIONOF ITALY TOHONOR KING VICTOR EMMANUEL II. FOR IT TO BE CONSTRUCTED A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODWAS DEMOLISHED, ANDMARVELOUS BUILDINGS LIKE THE TORRE DI PAOLO III AND PALAZZO TORLONIA WERE RAZED TO THE GROUND. THE STEPS LEADING UP TO THE ARA COELI RECALL THE MOVING LEGENDOF EMPEROR AUGUSTUS, WHO ASKED THE TIBURTINE SIBYL WHETHER HE TOO COULD BE REVERED LIKE GOD. THE SIBYL PREDICTED THAT THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRUE REDEEMER, JESUS CHRIST, WAS IMMINENT, WHEREUPON AUGUSTUS HAD AN ALTAR BUILT AT THE TOP OF THE CAPITOLINE HILL, AND NAMED IT ARA COELI, ALTAR OF HEAVEN.
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