In Latin Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae

In Italian Colonna di Marco Aurelio

In English Column of Marcus Aurelius

This towering column sits in Piazza Colonna in the historic heart of Roma. It’s modeled after Trajan’s column in Trajan’s forum. It stands about 130 ft. from the ground.

The spiral tells the story of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars. It begins when the soldiers cross the Danube River. The story is divided by a victory on the column. There are a few theories as to what this was meant to represent, but the current common theory is that the lower half represent the Marcomanni and Quadi in 172 and 173. The upper half is said to represent the Sarmatian in 174 and 175.

Marcus Aurelius is often considered to be one of the better ancient Roman Emperors. He’s actually thought to be in the top 3 emperors, usually losing to Trajan and the Great Augustus. His reign lasted from April 121 AD to March 180 AD when he died of natural causes. He was immediately deified and sent to rest at Hadrian’s Mausoleum (Castel Sant’Angelo).

The top of the column has a statue of Marcus Aurelius himself. Actually, it did originally, but it was replaced with the current statue of the Apostle Peter.

The column is a site to see. It isn’t overly crowded with tourists. As a matter of fact, my fiancée and I were the only 2 stranieri (or foreigners) in the piazza. It’s free to visit. You can get really close to it. There is a small gate around the base. It’s truly impressive.

When you’re in big cities, you can throw a rock in any direction and find a church or a statue. So this week, I just want to show you the 6 statues that I found most interesting in Milano.

1. Leonardo da Vinci

Located in Piazza della Scala, a statue of Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo stands, looking down to four of his students. This statue was inaugurated in the presence of King Vittorio Emmanuele II in 1872.

2. Guilio Ricordi

Statue of respected musician and recording publisher Giulio Ricordi, next to Teatro alla Scala. This statue caught my eye with the whimsical way that Ricordi is sitting. This is a newer addition to the Milan collection of statues. It was created in 2016!

3. Equestrian King Vittorio Emmanuele II

Statue of Vittorio Emmanuele II located in front of the Duomo di Milano, a the other end of the Piazza del Duomo. This equestrian statue of the King of Italy was commissioned in 1878. The sculptor, Ercole Rosa completed the statue and it was placed on the foundation in 1896.

4. St. Bartholomew Flayed

Statue St. Bartholomew Flayed, located inside the Duomo di Milano. This biblical character, gruesomely displayed after being martyred. A sculptor named Marco d’Agrate completed this piece in 1562.

5. La Madonnina

This is a replica of the golden statue that rests at the top of the largest spire on the cathedral. The name of this statue is Madonnina. It is a depiction of the Virgin Mary, as is easily found anywhere in Italy. She is a little too hard to get a good picture of, even from the roof, because of her height, but that doesn’t mean you can’t admire her up close. Luckily there is this exact replica that sits behind the altar inside the duomo.

6. L.O.V.E.

This one is a personal favorite of mine. This is a modern piece that stands in front of the Italian Stock Exchange building. It took us a minute to find, as it is not one of the usual tourist sites and therefore not marked like the others, but it was worth it. The statue is called L.O.V.E. and stands as a statement from the artist to the Italian bankers.

Blog Categories

Tag: famous italian figures

Roma | The Most Overlooked Roman Ruins

Milano | The 6 Statues You Must See In Milan