After years of restoration work, Rome has reopened the mausoleum of Emperor Augustus to visitors. Mayor Virginia Raggie announced this on Monday.
The mausoleum of Emperor Augustus was abandoned for years, until restoration work in 2016. The mausoleum is the largest circular tomb in the world, measuring 87 meters in diameter, and containing vessels with ashes of Emperor Augustus and his family. The Italian telecom company Tim provided financial support for the restoration.
Virginia Raggi, mayor of Rome, described the shrine as “a jewel in the historical heritage of humankind”. She called on people severely affected by the epidemic to be the first to visit the site. The shrine can be visited for free until April 21, 2021, but these tickets have already been sold out. Those who wish to visit the site later can book tickets online. For Roma residents this will be free, and tourists from outside the city will have to pay an entrance fee. Even after the reopening, construction work continues on the site.
Emperor Augustus was born in 63 BC as Gaius Octavius, but ended up in the history books as Emperor Augustus, which means “worthy of respect.” After the assassination of his great-uncle Julius Caesar, he brought peace and stability, a period referred to as the “Pax Romana”, to the Roman Empire. He passed away in the 14th year of our calendar. The shrine was later used as an amphitheater, theater, and concert hall, but it remained weak from 1936 until the archaeological excavations in 2007.
Unlimited free access to Showbytes? Which can!
Sign in or create an account and don’t miss the chance to star.