HOME HISTORY RESTAURANT MENU PHOTO CONTACTS HomeHistoryThe Portico D'Ottavia THE PORTICO D'OTTAVIA The area occupied by the famous Portico di Ottavia is today included between Via di Pescheria, Piazza Campitelli, the Marcello theater and that of Balbo (Monte Cenci). Here in 147 BC Quintus Cecilius Metellus had a temple dedicated to Jupiter built, surrounded by arcades, in which the Temple of Juno was also included. The arcades and temples were entirely rebuilt by the Emperor Augustus in honor of his sister Octavia (year 32 BC), under the direction of the Lacedaemonian architects Sauros (lizard) and Batrachos (frog), who had a lizard and a frog sculpted on top the capitals of the portico. One of these capitals can be seen today in the church of San Lorenzo outside the walls. Damaged by the fire of the year 80, the Temples and Porticoes were restored, around 203 AD, by Septimius Severus and Caracalla, who placed the inscription, still existing in the present propylaea, in which the Church of S.Angelo in Pescheria was built in the Middle Ages. The Temple of Jupiter (Stator?), Built by the Greek architect Ermodoro, and not to be confused with the other Temple of Jupiter Stator in Sacra Via Summa, was the first marble temple erected in Rome. The Temple of Juno Regina was dedicated by the Censorie M. Emilio Lepido, in the year 179 BC: part of this remains part of the base, the door of the Cell (in the cellars of a house in Via Sant'Angelo in Pescheria), and a grandiose elegant fluted column, Corinthian, still standing. Here was found the pedestal of the statue of Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi (now in the Capitoline Museum). Multiple works of art decorated the Portici d'Ottavia and the two temples: just mention the famous Aphrodite, (Venus of the Medici) masterpiece of Greek sculpture, which today is in the Uffizi gallery in Florence, (Homo, Rome, Ant. P.220). At the corners of the arcades there were pavilions, one of which was found, in 1867, at the Teatro Marcello, at a distance of only m. 1.50 from the said Theater. Today for the Romans the Portico d'Ottavia is synonymous with "ghetto" but in reality, in addition to the function of marking the boundaries of the area from which the Jews could not leave during the night, the remains of this ancient monument that the emperor Augustus he had it built for his sister Ottavia, they also represent the place where, up to the last century, a unique fish auction called "cottio" was made, in which the entire Roman population participated. Traces of the presence of the fish market remain on a plaque placed on the right of the arch and bearing the inscription that ordered the delivery to the Conservatories of each fish head for sale larger than the base of the plaque itself. This obligation was abolished only in 1798 during the Roman republic. WHERE WE ARE Rome, Italy Via del Portico D'Ottavia 21 / a-22 CONTACTS tel 066861105 - fax 066832106 info@giggetto.it APERTUTA OPENING HOURS Tue - Sun 12: 30-15: 00, 19: 30-23: 00 Mon Closed Reservations are accepted only by telephone This site uses cookies, including from third parties, to improve your experience and offer services in line with your preferences. By closing this banner, scrolling this page or clicking any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To know more' I approve Copyright Giggetto al Portico D'ottavia © 2012