ROMA EST ’23

In the eastern quadrant of Rome, below and to the east of the Via Nomentana, there is an intricate road network that follows the ancient Tiburtina, Collatina, Prenestina, Casilina and Tuscolana consular roads. The neighbourhoods, mostly sprung up spontaneously and illegally after World War II, are lapped by the waters of the Aniene river and crossed by the remains of the ancient Alessandrino aqueduct.

East Rome proudly enters the Roman identity landscape, breaking the South Rome/North Rome dichotomy. Although there are those who favour the old geographical binarism, East Rome unquestionably and proudly wears the medal of the area with the most inconveniences, from mobility to overcrowding. But it is also the most popular and authentic part of the city. One certainly doesn’t get bored here.

Proudly anti-fascist, it hosts the largest number of occupied and self-managed spaces. It has 63 of them: the first free and independent radio station founded in 1977, Radio Onda Rossa; the oldest social centre still occupied in Italy and the largest in Europe, Forte Prenestino; a lake that emerged after excavations for the construction of a car park, one of the few cases of spontaneous renaturation in Europe, Lake Ex SNIA – Viscosa; many other social spaces and buildings occupied for housing purposes, born from the recovery of former factories, disused former schools, emptied public offices, abandoned hotels.