Roman Architecture: Historic Rome Buildings

Roman Architecture, Historic Buildings, Architects, Arches, Ancient Churches, Photos

Roman Architecture : Historic Buildings in Rome

Traditional Architectural Designs in Rome and around the Mediterranean

post updated 11 Jan 2021 ; post updated 27 Feb 2020

Roman Buildings

We select the key examples of Roman Architecture. e-architect try to include ancient architectural projects that are either of top quality or interesting, or ideally both. These historic buildings and structures are all in Rome, Italy – we hope to bring further examples of Roman architecture from outwith the city soon.

Key Rome Buildings, alphabetical – all photos © Adrian Welch:

The Pantheon
118-128AD
Built for Hadrian
The Pantheon Rome
The building is cylindrical with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43 metres (142 ft).

Colosseo – Colosseum, Campitelli
Colosseum Roman Architecture
The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-faced concrete. The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various points of its history over the centuries.

It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Roman mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Forum Romanum – Roman Forum
Roman Forum Buildings

Castel S.Angelo – Hadrian’s Mausoleum
Hadrian’s Mausoleum Roman Architecture

Arco di Constantino – Constantine’s Arch
Constantine’s Arch Rome

Arco di Giano
Arco di Giano Roma

Santa Maria in Cosmedin, south Rome
Santa Maria in Cosmedin Roman Architecture

Santa Pudenziana
one of the oldest churches in Rome, southwest of Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Pudenziana Roma

Teatro di Marcello – Marcellus’ Theatre
Teatro di Marcello Roma

Terme di Carcalla – Baths of Caracalla

Key Roman Public Spaces

Area Sacra, Largo Argentina, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
ancient roman remains, various centuries
Area Sacra Roma

Campo de’ Fiori
Campo de' Fiori
Campo de’ Fiori is a rectangular square south of Piazza Navona, at the border between rione Parione and rione Regola. It is diagonally southeast of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and one block northeast of the Palazzo Farnese.

Campo de’ Fiori, translated literally from Italian, means “field of flowers”. The name dates to the Middle Ages when the area was a meadow.

Circo Massimo – Circus Maximus, southeast Rome
Circus Maximus Roman Architecture
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire.

It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width and could accommodate over 150,000 spectators. In its fully developed form, it became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire. The site is now a public park.

Fontane di Trevi – Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain Rome

Forum Traiano – Trajan’s Forum

Piazza Colonna, Via del Corso
Column erected 2nd C AD – honours Marcus Aurelius
Piazza Colonna Roman Architecture

Piazza della Rotunda – facing The Pantheon
Piazza della Rotunda Roman Architecture

Piazza del Campidoglio, Monte Capitolino

Piazza del Popolo
plan, with twin churches to south: Carlo Rainaldi
Piazza del Popolo

Piazza di Quirinale, northeast Rome
Piazza di Quirinale

Piazza della Republicca
Piazza della Republicca Roman Architecture

Piazza di Montecitorio
Obelisk
6th C BC, erected 1792

Piazza di Spagna

Piazza Navona – ancient circuit transformed in Baroque era
Piazza Navona Rome

More Roman Buildings online soon

Location: Rome, Italy

Famous Roman Structure, no image

Trajan’s Column – Colonna Traiana, Trajan’s Forum

Project beside Roman Building

Carré d’Art, Nimes, France
Date built: 1993
Design: Foster + Partners
Carre d’Art Nimes
Nigel Young, Foster & Partners
Carre d’Art Nimes
The Carré d’Art shows how a building project, backed by an enlightened political initiative, can not only encourage a dialogue between ancient and modern architectures but can also provide a powerful catalyst for reinvigorating the social and physical fabric of a city. The challenge was to relate the new to the old, but at the same time to create a building that represented its own age with integrity. The site faces the Maison Carre, a perfectly preserved Roman temple.

Italian Architecture

Rome Architecture Photos

Buildings / photos for the Roman BuildingHistoric Architecture in Italy page welcome