the capitoline hill is topped by medieval and renaissance palaces (now housing the capitoline museums) that surround the campidoglio designed by michelangelo.

michelangelo used ovals in the pavement to tie the forms of the space together and unify the piazza.

the fountain in front of the staircase features the river gods of the tiber and the nile as well as dea roma (minerva).

volturnus, the god of the river tiber, is accompanied by romulus, remus, and the she-wolf.