PUBLIC EXECUTIONS

written by Sergio Caggìa with Paul Gwynne for © Nerone the Insider's Guide to Rome

 

Public executions in Rome continued until 1870 when the city became the capital of Italy. The 'boia' in the story was the Pope's right-hand man; The Pope often in the past abused his power for personal profit, as in the sad story of Beatrice Cenci who, accused of the murder of her father, was executed with her family, and their possessions passing to the Papal See (Indeed the land which was forms the ground of the Villa Borghese was originally Cenci Property). A portrait reputated to be of the beautiful Beatrice Cenci painted by Guido Reni (1575-1642) can be found inside the Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica at Palazzo Barberini.   THE EXECUTION OF GIORDANO BRUNO The philosopher Giordano Bruno, who travelled to England at the time of Elisabeth I and who was a friend of Sir Phiplip Sidney, was burned in Piazza Campo de 'Fiori on the 17th of February 1600. The accusation is: heresy. He was born in Nola. Is statue can be found in P.zza Campo de' Fiori where every mnrning there is a very nice 'open air market'. I think he likes it!