Along the Via del Portico d’Ottavia resides a large inscription on a historical building that celebrates the former owner’s love for his city and its glorious classical past. Lorenzo Manilio, a spice merchant who lived during the second half of the 15th-century, built himself a large mansion and adorned it with a large inscription, along with various roman archaeological findings known as spoila. The inscriptions run alongside the building and read: “URBE ROMA IN PRISTINAM FORMA(M R)ENASCENTE LAUR MANLIUS KARITATE ERGA PATRI(AM) (A)EDIS SUO NOMINE MANLIANAS PRO FORT(UN)AR(UM) MEDIOCRITATE AD…
