The Lateran Apostolic Palace was built in 1585 by the architect Domenico Fontana on order of Pope Sixtus V Peretti to substitute the original Patriarchio, seat of the papal residence throughout the Middle Age until the so-called Avignon exile (1309-1377). In fact, after their return to Italy in 1377, the Popes went to live to […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Palazzo Pamphilj is one of the most important buildings on Piazza Navona, overlooking the Moor Fountain by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Built between 1644 and 1650 by the architect Girolamo Rainaldi, it was the family palace of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, made Pope in the 1644 with the name of Innocenzo X Pamphilj. Both the building […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Palazzo Braschi, seat of the civic museum of Rome (Museo di Roma) since 1952, boasts an enviable location in the very centre of Rome between Piazza Navona, Piazza di Pasquini, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the popular Campo de’ Fiori. During the 16th century, this area was occupied by another palace built by Giuliano da Sangallo […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Palazzo Altemps, located in Piazza di Sant’Apollinare, in front of Piazza Navona, is a beautiful building founded during the 15th century by Girolamo Riario and Caterina Sforza, and lately rebuilt by Martino Longhi il Vecchio for a Deutch cardinal, Marco Sittico Altemps. Seat of ancient collection since the 16th century, in the 1982 it was […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Piazza Venezia is literally dominated by the imposing white mass of the national monument dedicated to Victor Emanuel II, better known as Vittoriano. It was built to celebrate the Unification of Italy in 1860 and Victor Emanuel II, the Father of the Country, as well. The building was fixed by King Umberto I in 1878 […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Along Via del Corso, one of the building enclosing Piazza Colonna is the Y-shaped Galleria Colonna, recently refurbished and now dedicated to the Roman actor Alberto Sordi, died in 2003, famous for films as Un Americano a Roma and Il Marchese del Grillo. Built on the model of the pre-existing galleries of Milan (Galleria Vittorio […]
by Emanuele Buffa
The House of the Knights of Rhodes is a rare and little known architectural jewel of Rome. It dates back to the 12th century, when a pre-existent medieval castle was bought by the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, better known as the Knights of Malta. The present aspect is due to […]
In the very heart of the unique Quartiere Coppedè in Rome, just in front of the monumental Baroque archway that leads to the beautiful Piazza Mincio, is a building usually called Villino delle Fate, Fairy Tales Cottage, because of its particular architectural style. Completely asymmetrical, the building mixes together different elements as a gothic staircase, […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Located in Piazza Benedetto Cairoli and recently refurbished, the monumental Renaissance Palazzo Santacroce was ordered by the Earl Onofrio Santacroce and designed by Carlo Maderno between 1598 and 1602. Some later modifications were brought by Francesco Peparelli in 1630 and then during the 19th century. A sort of little bridge used to connect the palace […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Between the numerous fine buildings of Rome, the High Renaissance Palazzo Farnese, today seat of the French Embassy in Italy, is one of the most important and fascinating. Located a few steps from Campo de’ Fiori, it was first designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger in 1514 for the Farnese family, and later expanded […]
by Emanuele Buffa
