Modern Rome

Rome offers different itineraries if one wants to visit the modern aspect of the city. In the beautiful area of Flaminio, stands the Maxxi Museum. This modern building has opened its doors for the first time in May 2010 and it was built by the famous Iranian architect Zaha Hadid. This museum hosts permanent expositions and some temporary events of modern art. In the same area is situated the Roman Auditorium, which is also a compelling build, Renzo Piano created a unique space for the musical scenery in Rome.

Otherwise, on the other side of the city, is situated the E.U.R. district. This monumental nieghborhood was built the XX century by the Fascist Regime for the Universal Exposition that should have taken place in 1942 but never happened because of World War II. This is where the neighborhood takes its name E.U.R., in facts is an acronym for “Esposizione Universale di Roma” (Roma Universal Exposition). The architecture is inspired by the Classical Roman style, intertwined with elements of the Italian Rationalism. The structure of the neighborhood is monumental and squared, build in white marble in order to look like the temples and the uildings of the Imperial Rome. The most iconic building is the Palace of the Italian Civilisation, nicknamed “The squared Colosseum”.

Another example of syncrasis of modern and classical architecture is the Ara Pacis museum, a project by Meier, that encased the Roman Altar of Peace in a ultra-modern structure, redefining the boundaries between the two architectures. Meier also build a church, called “The Sails” in Tor Tre Teste in the sud-east of Rome.