Castro Pretorio, Central residential district near Termini Station in Rome, Italy
Castro Pretorio is a central residential area next to Termini Station featuring wide streets and 19th-century buildings mixed with ancient Roman remains. The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme houses one of Rome's major collections of classical sculpture, mosaics, and frescoes from various periods.
The name comes from the Castra Praetoria, a military barracks built between 21 and 23 AD to house the emperor's elite guard. Later the Romans constructed a major bath complex here, which was partially transformed into a church centuries afterward.
The neighborhood's name comes from the ancient military fortress that once controlled this area of the city. Walking through today, you notice how the old remains are woven into the fabric of daily Roman life.
The neighborhood sits directly next to Termini Station, providing easy access to metro lines A and B, trains, and long-distance buses. It is easy to navigate on foot and has plenty of cafés and shops along the main streets.
Hidden within the Baths of Diocletian is a surprising church that the artist Michelangelo created by reshaping part of the ancient bath complex. The building shows how religious and ancient structures were connected centuries later.
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