Rome, Italy
Historical Buildings in Rome
Palazzo Venezia In the very heart of the city center, the building was for
centuries ago the seat of the Venice embassy. Today it houses a museum and galleries
art.
Palazzo della Cancelleria
Palazzo Farnese
Palazzo della Sapienza – 8, Corso Rinascimento tel 06 686 4987. Bus 70 81,
87, 492. Close to Navona square, this building housed the University of Rome
since the middle of the 15th century until 1935. The splendid interior courtyard
was created by Giacomo della Porta. The inside church of St Ivo is one of the
masterpieces of Architect Borromini.
Palazzo Altemps – 8, Sant’ Apollinare street tel.06 6897091. Bus 70, 81,
87, 492. Simple and elegant lines make up this building, whose construction
began in 1480 for Count Girolamo Riario, nephew of Papa Sisto IV and was taken
up by architect Martino Longhi for the new owner, Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps.
Palazzo Taverna – Via di Monte Giordano. The building is located in one
of the most set-apart corners of the city center among the Navona square and
Castel Sant Angelo. It served as residence for the Orsini Family. Nowatdays
it is a private property and one can only glance at the courtyard and the inside
amazing fountain erected in 1618 by architect Antonio Casoni. However, the brief
moment is worth it.
Palazzo Crivelli – Via dei Banchi vecchi, 22 This building also know as
the Doll House was built in the 16th century. It is unique for the quantity
and quality of the decorations – lions heads, satyrs and disfigured heads that
adorn the facade attributed to the sculptor Giulio Mazzoni.
Palazzo Spada Piazza Capo di Ferro – This building was erected in the 16th
century by Giulio Merisi Caravaggio for Cardinal Capodiferro. One century later
it was acquired by another powerful Cardinal, Bernardino Spada and was restored
by Borromini.
Palazzo Barberini
Villa Farnesina This Renaissance house is in Trastevere, very close to the
river and not far from the Vatican. You can tour several beautiful rooms covered
in frescoes, including some by Raphael.
Others
Castel Sant’Angelo – Originally built between 135 and 139 AD by the emperor
Hadrian for use as his mausoleum, it rivalled Augustus’ mausoleum just across
the Tiber (Tevere) River. The mausoleum was later used as a fortress and a prison
until 1870, but now houses a museum.
Trastevere
Il Gianicolo
Piramid, at the Piramid metro station.