Molo del Lazzaretto (Lazzaretto Pier), Civitavecchia

Not many people know that inside the Port of Civitavecchia there is one of the most evocative and ancient monuments of the city: we are talking about the Fortino di San Pietro, also known as Molo del Lazzaretto. The structure, initially composed of a turret which also served as an internal lighthouse, was part of the majestic project wanted by the emperor Trajan for the port of Civitavecchia and directed in turn by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus (107 AD). The pier was crossed by tunnels which constituted a continuous water exchange system which served to keep the seabed clean and to avoid silting up the dock. The Lazzaretto is a clear example of the engineering skill of the Romans ; a system that still carries out its function, remaining unique in the world. Presumably the actual lighthouse, visible from a great distance, must have been placed on an advanced dam in the open sea, while the lanterns were located on the piers, which together with the main lighthouse allowed the approach and safe entry during the night. Over the centuries the Lazzaretto underwent restoration and in the 17th century an adjacent building was built (which was destroyed after the war) which housed the crews of the boats who were held in quarantine. The papal interventions on the pier date back to the first decades of the 17th century under the pontificate of Urban VIII, but they were only completed in December 1755 by Benedict two slopes adorned with a large plaque with sculptures and the papal coat of arms. Recently, thanks to the commitment of the " La Civetta di Civitavecchia " Association which has organized various events to promote its protection and start a new redevelopment project, the Lazzaretto was admitted by the FAI on the occasion of the 7th seventh census "Places of the heart". Unfortunately due to running out of funds, the project cannot be financed at the moment, but the Fortino di San Pietro has obtained 8113 subscriptions and will still remain under the attention of the FAI which will monitor everything that happens and will happen around it. We really hope that this important monument gets the recognition it deserves given that it has also managed to attract the attention of Hollywood, becoming one of the locations of the famous comedy Zoolander 2. Read our news on the filming at the Lazzaretto Pier and watch the trailer of the film!

The Fort of San Pietro, located in the ancient pier of the Lazzaretto, is one of the most evocative monuments of the Port of Civitavecchia (RM). It is a lighthouse tower, originally part of the large port commissioned by the emperor Trajan and built by Apollodorus of Damascus at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. Over the centuries the port and the fort underwent various modifications, especially in the seventeenth century, with Pope Urban VIII Barberini, until the following century when, in 1755, the works ended under Benedetto XIV Lambertini (1740-58). In 1656, however, during a plague epidemic, the fort was transformed into a hospital, hence the name Lazzaretto that the entire pier still bears today. Finally, the structure resisted the Allied bombings of 14 May 1943, despite suffering inevitable damage.

One of the most evocative and ancient monuments of the city is hidden in the port of Civitavecchia: the Fortino di San Pietro, in the Lazzaretto pier. The structure, a turret that served as an internal lighthouse, was part of the majestic port project wanted by the emperor Trajan and directed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. The pier was crossed by tunnels which constituted a continuous water exchange system which served to keep the seabed clean and to avoid silting up the dock. The Lazzaretto is a clear example of the engineering skill of the Romans; a system that still carries out its function, remaining unique in the world. Presumably the actual lighthouse, visible from a great distance, must have been placed on an advanced dam in the open sea, while the lanterns were located on the piers, which together with the main lighthouse allowed the approach and safe entry during the night. ***PH***