Rome: Impact of an Idea

Rome has twice been the “center of the Universe,” first as the capital of the Roman Empire, and later as the Renaissance capital of Christianity. Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) is given much of the credit for the recreation of Rome to its Renaissance-Baroque grandeur. Thurs. Nov. 14, a free film at Memphis College of Art will take a look at his impact on the development of cities.


Roughly 1000 years after the fall of Rome, Sixtus restored the city's ancient acqueducts bringing fresh water back to Rome and with it beautiful fountains. He built straight avenues with long vistas and tied them together with open piazzas. As ancient buildings were torn down to make way for new, public concern led to the idea that the new city should accommodate the ancient city, and architectural preservation became an important goal in city planning.

Edmund Bacon, Exec. Dir. of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and author of Design for Cities, examined the significance of Sixtus’ work in a 30 minute film Rome: Impact of an Idea. Sponsored by ULI and Boyle Inv. Co., it will be shown in the auditorium at Memphis College of Art (1930 Poplar Avenue, Overton Park) Thurs. Nov. 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. The showing is free and open to the public.