Capitoline Wolf Monument, Piacenza
Capitoline Wolf Monument in Piacenza (Monumento alla Lupa) is a copy of the famous Capitoline Wolf. The simple and familiar for every Italian monument emphasizes the ancient connection between Rome and Piacenza. As early as 1848, the deputies of Piacenza held a referendum, according to which they supported Piedmont in the war against Austria. This event marked the beginning of the future united Kingdom of Italy, and the city of Piacenza became its "first-born." In 1936, after the conquest of Ethiopia, King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III was assigned to be its emperor. In honor of this, as well as a tribute to the loyalty of Piacenza, the head of government Benito Mussolini donated a copy of the Roman wolf statue to the city. The monument was opened in 1938 on the occasion of conferring the title of First Marshal of Italy to the King and Prime Minister. Duce was present at the celebration.
The sculpture was brought from Rome, and the foundation was created by the local architect Pietro Berzolla. A 3.5 m high pedestal is made of several rough granite blocks. 2 granite columns rise on it (7.3 meters) that were taken from the Farnese Palace in Piacenza. A marble block with the abbreviation "SPQR" is on it, which often figured on the banners of the Roman legions and was used in the Roman Empire and the Republic. The monument is crowned by a two-meter figure of a she-wolf feeding the Romulus and Remus brothers. Her face is turned to the exit from the city, as if protecting it from intruders.
How to get there
The monument is located on Piazzale Roma, near the center of Piacenza. Here Via Roma ends and Via Colombo begins, which is part of the ancient Roman road Via Emilia. Nearby there are the Monument of Garibaldi and the Natural History Museum. Near the square there is the Urban Center bus stop. It can be reached by buses № 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 16.
