Between conservation and progress: the use of ancient walls in Rome, capital of the Kingdom of Italy

The loss of the original defensive function of Rome’s imperial walls, beginning in 1870, marked the start of their gradual decline. The debate that surrounded decisions regarding the fate of individual sections of the walls must be viewed within the broader context of the dispute over protecting Rome from real estate speculation in the aftermath of the Presa di Roma, a dispute that held both national and international significance. The most significant demolitions were carried out to facilitate traffic flow and to connect the rail lines outside the walls with the new central station. However, even smaller, less visible infrastructures compromised, or risked compromising, the integrity of the fortification. Particular attention is given to the 1908 construction of a water reservoir inside a tower of the Aurelian Walls near Porta Pinciana, intended to irrigate Villa Umberto I (formerly Villa Borghese). The project, initially opposed by the Municipal Archaeological Commission, was ultimately approved for reasons of public utility, despite criticism from the international press. The decision fell on tower B3, likely because it was already in poor condition, and the 'gutting' it underwent may have been considered less damaging. The reservoir was removed in 1959. As early as 1925, however, it had lost its importance following major upgrades to the irrigation network in the villa and the rest of the city, carried out in preparation for the Holy Year. This episode is part of a broader reflection on the challenge of reconciling the functional needs of a modern city with the preservation of its archaeological heritage. The Roman case demonstrates how, even in the early post-unification decades, the relationship between urban development and historical conservation was at the heart of a cultural and political debate.