Portunus temple - Rome

The Temple of Portunus, otherwise known as the “Rectangular temple” or Temple of the Virile Fortune, rests on the slopes of Palatine Hill in the area of the ancient Forum Boarium. According to current studies, the temple dates to the IV-III centuries B. C., and went through several decorative stages during I-II centuries A. D. Between the VIII and IX centuries A. D., the temple was converted into a church and dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt. The church underwent multiple transformations and was incorporated into adjacent buildings until 1921, when the Architect Muñoz had it demolished, along with other buildings, to expose the structure of the ancient Roman temple and to create of present-day Via Petroselli. The restoration of the temple won the World Monument Watch in 2004. After winning this award, in 2006 the temple was included in the funding programs of the World Monument Fund and the Soprintendenza Speciale ai Beni Archeologici of Rome. These funds were used to restore the external and internal architectural surfaces in tufa, travertine and stucco a well as the internal frescos. (see sections "Projects", "Wall paintings", "Detachments and applications"). In 2013, the Temple won the First International Prize for the Enhancement of the Cultural Heritage, Italian Heritage Award for the archaeological restorations.
(Photo by P. Soriani)