Course Description
Traditionally Rome is said to be founded on seven hills, but the history and the topography of Rome is a bit more complex than that. During a semester in Rome the students will learn to explore the logic of how a city develops on the example of the development of the city of Rome from ancient times till today. They will explore why some areas are developed before others, and which factors influence the emerging character of the city.

Course Method
Students work is divided in four different requirements:
A group work analyzing the Seven Hills of Rome, consisting of sketches, analysis of historical cartography and contemporary maps, drawings of large scale, sections, geographical and topographical analyses; weekly sketches which should capture and reveal an important topic enfolded in the weekly lectures; mandatory presence during lectures and walks and a final test at the end of the semester with questions on the topics of the lectures and the walks.

Course Objectives:
- To gain basic understanding of Rome’s urban development and the historical reasons underlying its contemporary urban character;
- To gain in-depth understanding of one of Rome’s famed hills;
- To enhance understanding of scale and urban spatial dimensions through analysis and sketching;
- To practice skills in effective communication of inventory, analysis and conclusions using sketches and diagrams, supplemented by annotations and brief text;
- To effectively communicate discoveries in sketches, text, and digital powerpoint presentations.
-
The lectures are every Tuesday at 9:30 in the studio via Lata.
The walks are every Thursday morning: meeting point and time to be defined the Tuesday before.

Calendar
THE GEOLOGY AND THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ROME
1. Lecture: introduction to the program.
Walk: exploring walk from the center to the Janiculum Hill to get an impression of the city.
2. Lecture: the nature of Rome: geography, geology, topography, settlements.
Walk: the 7 Hills. Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine, visit to the roof of the Vittoriano Emanuele monument.
3. Lecture: The Seven Hills of Rome.
Walk: the 7 Hills. Quirinale, Viminale, Esquilino, Celio
4. Lecture: Rome and the element water: the sea, the rivers (Tiber, Aniene, Almone), the harbors (Porto di Ripetta, Porto di Ripa Grande, Porto di Claudio), Ostia, Ostia Antica, the fountains.
Walk: boat trip on the Tiber from the centre to the Foro Italico

HISTORY, LAYERS OF ROME
5. Lecture: the Underground Rome, the different historical layers, special areas (Largo Argentina, Stadio di Domician/Piazza Navona ….etc, catacombs).
Walk: S. Clemente, Foro Romano, Via di Portico d’Ottavia , Largo Argentina.
6. Lecture: development of the city, the roman roads, pilgrim roads
presentation and review of the 7 Hills analyses
7. Lecture: development of the city, old and new maps of Rome (Nolli, Lanciani, Piano regolatore etc.)
Walk: field trip to the church Dives in Misericordia (by bus)

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ROME
8. Lecture: 1870 what happened after Rome became the capital of Italy? how did the city grow throughout the last 2000 years?
Walk: via Flaminia, Flaminio area, Auditorium and MAXXI Museum.
9. Lecture: how did Mussolini change the city? Axis (Via della Conciliazione, Via dei Fori Romani, Corso Risorgimento), squares, cities in the city (Foro Italico – the sports city, Cinecittà, Città Universitaria, EUR)
Walk: Piazza Imperatore Augustus and the Ara Pacis Museum
10. Lecture: Contemporary Rome. Overview of what is happening at the moment.
Walk : EUR or Foro Italico
11. Final Test
presentation of the analyses

Grading and Evaluation
The grades for 499D will be based on the following:
20% Attendance at lectures and walks (each absence will result in a demerit of 1% from your final grade)
20% Sketches (based on craft and insight, equally weighted)
20% Test
40% Group analysis of one Rome’s Seven Hills.
The group project will be evaluated in the following categories, equally weighted:
-Breadth of analysis (has the project addressed all the important characteristics of the analyzed hill?)
-Depth of analysis (how thoughtful is the analysis; have students made insightful discoveries?)
-Clarity of presentation (are points clear and easy to follow, both in the verbal and visual presentation?)
-Graphic quality of visual presentation (is the presentation well-composed and beautiful?)

Book References:
The seven hills of Rome. A geological tour of the eternal city – Heiken, Funiciello, De Rita

Cartography in digital version:
- Leonardo Buffalini, Pianta di Roma, 1551
- Gian Battista Nolli, Pianta Grande di Roma, 1748
- Rodolfo Lanciani, Forma Urbis Romae, 1901
- Atlante di Roma, aerial photo of Rome, 1997
- Sara – Nistri, Rome in scale 1:500
- The master plan of Rome, Piano Regolatore 2003;
- Rome on AutoCAD