Descrittione di Roma Antica e Moderna

Description of Ancient and Modern Rome

Federico Franzini

Descrittione di Roma Antica e Moderna..., written by Federico Franzini in 1643, is a 787-page illustrated guidebook containing four sections describing ancient and modern Rome. It was written during a transitional time in the history of the guidebook tradition. It’s title, Descrittione di Roma Antica e Moderna, speaks to the author’s opinion about the importance of ancient Rome; Franzini gives as much distinction to the ancient monuments as he does to the Christian ones. Previously guidebooks were titled Cose Maravigliose & Anitchità, these guides gave more prominence to the wonders of Christian Rome with the ancient monuments as an interesting, albeit less significant, supplement to the main text. Franzini divides the guidebook into four sections. The first section is a list and description of the seven principal churches of Rome. The second section is a description of other significant churches categorized by their location in Rome. The third section is a three-day itinerary for the Roman tourist which includes both ancient and modern sites. And the final section is a description of the antiquities of Rome including buildings, bridges, complexes, fountains, obelisks, and statues. The itinerary portrays Rome holistically, as a modern city that contains both ancient and modern structures along with Christian monuments, and is also an important object in itself.