by Mauro Battocchi

When the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino looks out of his office window from the Capitoline Hill (pictured above), the material remnants of a rich and profound history stretch as far as the eye can see. In the foreground is where Marc Antony addressed the Roman Senate after the assassination of Julius Caesar. In the distance is the Arch of Constantine, which celebrates the defeat of Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Next to that lies the eternal colosseum, whose myriad soot soaked eyes peek out at a city that has grown in and among the ruins of the progenitor of Western Civilization — like fresh green shoots bursting from ancient volcanic soil.

We were very honored to host Mayor Marino at the Consulate last night where a crowd gathered to discuss the future of Rome's fabled archeological wealth. As the Mayor put it, these treasures are not only Rome's, but also belong to the world at large. They embody the impact the Eternal City has made in the unfolding of all modern civilization. The cultural heritage of Rome — and UNESCO would agree — is very much world cultural heritage. We all share the responsibility to care for these priceless cultural heirlooms.

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Source: http://sanfranciscoitaly.com/