Lovers of architecture and luxury lovers are dedicated to our selection of the most beautiful Roman palaces and villas.
Villa Farnesina
Capitoline palaces
There are three magnificent palaces on Capitol Square: the Senators, Conservatives and Nuovo palazzos (Campidoglio Palazzi). All of them were rebuilt in the XVI century according to the project of Michelangelo from medieval buildings. Now they house the Capitoline Museum. In the Palace of the Conservatives, the original statue of the Capitoline Wolf is stored, and in Nuovo - "Discus Ball" and a statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Palazzo Borghese
The building of the Borghese Palace (Palazzo Borghese, mid-16th century) is located in Villa Borghese and is made in the shape of a trapeze, which is why it has the nickname Il Cembalo (harpsichord). The narrow facade of the palace looks towards the Tiber. The pride of the palazzo is a charming courtyard surrounded by 96 granite columns, decorated with statues and three fountains of the 17th century. A scene from the film “Romeo and Juliet” (1968) directed by Franco Zefirelli was shot on the palace balcony.
- Read also about the Borghese Gallery
Palazzo Massimo alle Colonna
The elegant palace of the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne (Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, beginning of the 16th century), built by the architect Baldasare Peruzzi for the noble Massimo family to replace their burnt house. It is located next to Piazza Navona, in the territory of the former circus of Domitian. From the circus buildings survived one column, which gave the name to the palace. Now the palazzo is divided into apartments, in one of them the Marquis Giuseppe Ricci lives with his wife Eleanor Massimo Ricci.
Palazzo farnese
The Palazzo Farnese (Palazzo Farnese, 16th century) is a wonderful example of a Roman palace in the Renaissance style. For more than a hundred years, the French embassy has been located in the palazzo. The palace belonged to the Farnese family, Michelangelo himself had a hand in its construction and decoration. The papal emblem of the master’s work, mounted above the central facade window, is the largest in Rome.
Villa Julia
Villa Guilia (1551 - 1555) was once the summer residence of the popes, but for more than a hundred years there has been a museum of Etruscan culture. Named after the first owner, Pope Julius III. The elegant Mannerism-style building was completed by architect Giacomo da Vignola, while the three-level gazebo around the garden fountain and the fountain itself were built by Ammanatti under the direction of Giorgio Vasari. The gazebo, the so-called nympheum, was decorated with figures of forest gods and was intended for outdoor dining.
Palazzo barberini
The construction of the Barberini Palace (Palazzo Barberini, 1627 - 1633) is associated with the most famous representative of the glorious Barberini family - Pope Urban VIII. Construction was started by the architect Carlo Maderna, continued by Francesco Borromini and Lorenzo Bernini.
Since 1949, the Palazzo Barberini was completely sold to the state. Now there is the National Gallery of Ancient Art.
Chancellery Palace
The Palace of the Office (Palazzo Della Cancelleria, 1489 - 1513) is a monumental and at the same time elegant creation of the great architect Bramante. Built on money won in cards by the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, Cardinal Camelling Rafael Rario. The win was truly a great success - the architectural harmony of the construction reached its perfection. In 1517, Pope Leo X placed his office here, hence the name of the palazzo.
Palazzo Recession
Cardinal Bernardino Spada bought the palace (Palazzo Spada, first half of the 16th century) in 1632 and, wanting to turn it into a magnificent family home, invited Borromini for reconstruction. The effect exceeded all expectations. The facade of the Palazzo Spada is the most luxuriously decorated in Rome. The patio overlooks the Prospect Borromini, a nine-meter gallery that looks four times as long. The effect is achieved thanks to sloping floors and tapering arches. The art gallery, located in four rooms on the ground floor, contains works by Guido Reni, Albani, Caravaggio. In 1927, the palace was bought by the state, since then the gallery is open to visitors. There are also meetings of the Supreme Council.
Palazzo venice
The Palazzo Venezia (Palazzo Venezia, 1455) is a unique building in Venice Square, in the architecture of which the Middle Ages met with the Renaissance. Terrible walls with rectangular teeth are similar to the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. Asymmetric windows are striking - it was believed that through such an evil spirit can not enter the house. The palace was originally the residence of Cardinal Pietro Barba, Ambassador of the Republic of Venice. In the 1930s, he was chosen by Mussolini, and fascist calls sounded from the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia. Now the National Museum is located there.
