Rome
AA-2026-D6CCF7
On the image
This river has flowed through Rome for centuries, serving as a convenient place for disposing of enemies or, sometimes, for transportation. In the 1970s, tourists lined its banks, pointing cameras at things built by people who believed their empires would last forever.
The massive fortress on the right once served as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum before becoming a papal fortress, a prison, and finally, a museum. Its architectural evolution suggests that while some people planned for eternity, others planned for immediate, violent defense, often against the first group.
Today, visitors are generally more concerned with getting a good picture and perhaps finding a decent gelato. The structures remain, indifferent to modern preoccupations, enduring as silent witnesses to countless human endeavors, most of which ended with someone else taking over.
The historian's note
This photograph, taken in the 1970s, captures a wide view of the Tiber River in Rome, Italy, with several historically significant landmarks. In the foreground, the Ponte Sant'Angelo spans the river, adorned with ten angel sculptures designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, leading towards Castel Sant'Angelo.
Castel Sant'Angelo, originally constructed as the mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian between 135 and 139 AD, has served various functions throughout history, including a papal fortress, castle, and prison, before its current role as a museum. Its strategic position on the river made it a crucial defensive structure for Rome and the Vatican City for centuries.
Dominating the distant skyline is the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, an iconic symbol of Christianity and one of the largest churches in the world, located within Vatican City. The scene illustrates the enduring historical layers of Rome, from its ancient Roman origins through the Papal States to its modern identity as a global city and tourist destination.
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Tiber River, Castel Sant'Angelo, and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-D6CCF7. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/tiber-river-castel-sant-angelo-and-st-peter-s-basilica-rome-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026D6CCF7,
title = {Tiber River, Castel Sant'Angelo, and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-D6CCF7},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/tiber-river-castel-sant-angelo-and-st-peter-s-basilica-rome-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Tiber River, Castel Sant'Angelo, and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-D6CCF7 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/tiber-river-castel-sant-angelo-and-st-peter-s-basilica-rome-1970s ER -
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