The Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio) is the smallest but most famous of the Seven Hills of Rome. It was the political and religious center of ancient Rome and since the end of the 11th century has been the seat of civic government of the city. The hill has two crests separated by a depression which is now the Piazza del Campidoglio. The northern summit, the arx or citadel of Rome, was dominated by the Temple of Juno Moneta, today covered by the church of St. Maria in Aracoeli. On the southern summit stood the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus, the most venerated in Rome. The investiture of consuls took place here and it was also the terminus of the triumphant procession awarded to victorious generals. In ancient times the Capitoline Hill was accessible primarily from the Forum to the southeast. By the 16th century the main buildings were oriented to the northwest toward the Vatican, emphasizing the consolidation of temporal and ecclesiastical power under the Renaissance Popes. The entire hill was redesigned by Michelangelo in 1534 in honor of Charles V's planned visit to Rome in 1536.

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