The House of Lorenzo Manilio

Piazza Giuda

House of Lorenzo Manilio

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There stands in what was once the Jewish Ghetto a 15th century building that is distinguished by little else than the size and length of its inscription. The property once belonged to Lorenzo Manilio and the inscription that he commissioned extends across the facade for more than 21 metres. 

The inscription reads: VRBE ROMA IN PRISTINAM FORMA(m) (r)ENASCENTE LAVR. MANLIUS KARITATE ERGA PATRI(am) (a)EDIS SVO/NOMINE MANLIANAS PRO FORT(un)AR(um) MEDIOCRITATE AD FOR(um) IUDEOR(um) SIBI POSTERISQ(ue) SVIS A FUND(amentis) P(osuit) / AB VRB(e) CON(dita)/MMCCXXI L AN(no) M(ense) III D(ie) II P(osuit) XI CAL(endas) AVG(ustas).

​It can be roughly translated as: 'In the city of Rome, now being reborn in its former glory, Lorenzo Manilio built this house in the Jewish quarter as a token of love for his city and within the limit of his modest means. This house for him and his heirs was begun on the 11th day after the calends of August in the 2,221st year from the foundation of the city, when Lorenzo was 50 years, 3 months and two days old.' The date corresponds to the year 1468. 

In addition to the main inscription, Manilio had his name inscribed over each of the four entrances. It appears thrice in Latin and once in Greek. 

The Casa di Lorenzo Manilio also incorporates spolia, fragments of ancient Roman sculptures, such as a lion killing an antelope, once part of a sarcophagus. 

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House of Lorenzo Manilio

Recycling an Ancient Roman Lion