Tuesday, December 7, 2010 The Muro Torto (meaning, "askew wall")
is an ancient Roman supporting wall located behind the Pincian
hill, that cuts through the Villa Borghese, running all the way
from Via Veneto to the Piazza del Popolo. Don't be fooled by
this picture, weekday traffic here is always bumper-to-bumper.
There are actual sayings to that effect, like for example,
"Jammed like the Muro Torto at rush hour..." or, "Growing old on
the Muro Torto," etc. I'm kidding, the maxims don't exist. But
the traffic is indeed very real. The wall–dating to the end of
the Republican era (509 BC to 27 BC)–supports the sloping
hillside that once housed many patrician mansions, like the ones
belonging to the Anicii, the Acilii and Pinci families. The wall
was later included in the monumental Aurelian Wall complex; and
in the late 1800s this is where suicide victims, thieves,
vagabonds and prostitutes were buried. For more interesting
history and lore surrounding the Muro Torto, you can read this
very well-written article