Pietro Metastasio: Poet and Librettist

​Piazza della Chiesa Nuova

Statue of Pietro Metastasio by Emilio Gallori

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On January 3rd 1698, the poet and librettist Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, better known as Pietro Metastasio, was born in Rome. 

A monument to Metastasio stands in Piazza della Chiesa Nuova, the work of the Florentine sculptor Emilio Gallori (1846-1924). The monument first stood in Piazza San Silvestro, where it was inaugurated on April 21st 1886. In 1910 it was moved to its present location, not far from the poet's birthplace in Via dei Cappellari.

Metastasio is considered the most important writer of libretti for opera seria, a musical term that refers to the noble and serious style of Italian opera which predominated in 18th century Europe.

Metastasio died in Vienna on April 12th 1782.

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Piazza di San Silvestro (c.1898)

Plaque to Metastasio, Via dei Cappellari