Tor di Nona
The Tor di Nona is a neighborhood in Rome's rione Ponte. It lies in the heart of the city's historic center, between the Via dei Coronari and the Tiber River. Its name commemorates the Torre dell'Annona, a mediaeval tower which once stood there and was later converted into one of the city's most important theatres, the Teatro Tordinona, later called the Teatro Apollo.
History
The Torre dell'Annona was a medieval stronghold of the Orsini family and from the early 15th century, acted as a pontifical prison. Prisoners included Benevenuto Cellini who experienced the dungeon's lightless cells, one of which was known as "the pit", Beatrice Cenci, and Giordano Bruno who was imprisoned here before being burned alive in Campo de' Fiori.
When the New Prison (Le Carceri nuove) was built in Via Giulia, Tor di Nona was rebuilt in 1667 as a theatre patronized by Queen Christina of Sweden and the best Roman company. In January 1671 Rome's first public theatre opened in the former jail.Filippo Acciaiuoli was the first director. The new pope Clement X worried about the influence of theatre on public morals. When Innocent XI became pope, things turned even worse; he made Christina's theatre into a storeroom for grain, although he had been a frequent guest in her royal box with the other cardinals. He forbade women to perform with song or acting, and the wearing of decolleté dresses. Christina considered this sheer nonsense, and let women perform in her palace.
Lungotevere Tor di Nona
Lungotevere Tor di Nona is the stretch of Lungotevere that connects Piazza di Ponte Sant'Angelo to Piazza di Ponte Umberto I in Rome, in the rione Ponte. It was named so following the resolution of the city council of 20 July 1887.
History
The Lungotevere runs against the Via di Tor di Nona, a riverside path already present in the ancient Roman road system. To river activities was clearly tied a more ancient pier-dock built before the construction of the walls, probably destined, in the age of Hadrian, to the unloading of marbles for the imperial mausoleum.
After the construction of the Aurelian walls along the left bank of the Tiber, in which were opened several posterulae intended for river traffic, the route followed the walls' path. Roman remains of the pier were still visible at the time of 18th century engraver Giovanni Battista Piranesi and were well sketched by him, although interpreted as "Remains of the Triumphal Bridge".
In the Middle Ages the street was named after the medieval Turris de Annona, a building so named because of its use as grain storeroom: before that, the tower had been a possession of the aristocratic Orsini family, and was used as prison from the 15th century to 1660.
