In this page:
 The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
 Today's view
 Mostra di Papa Giulio III
 Villa Giulia
 Villa Sinibaldi
 Cappella dell'Arco Oscuro

The Plate (No. 186)

Pope Julius III built an elegant fountain on Via Flaminia at the entrance of his suburban Villa (or as it was called then Vigna=Vineyard, because the main building -Casino- was surrounded by a large cultivated area). Pope Pius IV completed the small palace adjoining the fountain. The building with the fountain was inherited by Cardinal Carlo Borromeo and eventually by Prince Marcantonio Colonna, who won at Lepanto. The view is taken from the green dot in the small late XIXth century map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Façade of the Casino and fountain; 2) Casino and fountain of Villa Sinibaldi; 3) Casino belonging to the Camera Apostolica built by Giacomo Barozzi (il Vignola) (Villa di Papa Giulio). The small map shows also 4) Cappella dell'Arco Oscuro.

Today

The view on the right side is altered by a building, which covers the view over Villa Sinibaldi. The fountain is much damaged in the lower part.

La Mostra di Papa Giulio III

One of the reasons why Pope Julius III is almost forgotten is that Paulus IV confiscated all the possessions of the Pope's heirs (that's why Vasi makes reference to Camera Apostolica). Thus we see the coat of arms of Pius IV who left the building to his nephew Cardinal Carlo Borromeo. Benedictus XIV restored the fountain but his coat of arms is in very poor shape.
The fountain bears the coat of arms of the Colonna: the flags are a reminder of the victory of Lepanto. The fountain which is visible in the right side of the plate is now relocated a few meters away still on Via Flaminia.

The little palace to the left of the fountain was completed by Pius IV and it is attributed to Pirro Ligorio. Here the Colonna put a coat of arms of Martinus V, their great pope.

Villa Giulia

Villa Giulia, built by Vignola with some advice by Vasari, Ammannati and Michelangelo, is now the Etruscan Museum of Rome. Here Pope Julius III spent most of his time. The wreaths of his coat of arms are still visible.
Read William Dean Howells' account of his visit to Villa di Papa Giulio in 1908.

Villa Sinibaldi

Villa Sinibaldi, originally built in the second half of the XVIth century for Cardinal Cesi, was bought in 1800 by the heirs of the last King of Poland and it is known today as Villa Poniatowski. Giuseppe Valadier gave to the building and in particular to the loggia a neo-classic appearance.

Cappella dell' Arco Oscuro

In 1686 Pope Innocentius XI Odescalchi built a formal entrance to a chapel hidden in a cave (arco oscuro dark arch). The relief at the top shows an eagle and a lamp, both heraldic symbols of the pope.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:

Next plate in Book 10: Villa e Casino Borghese
Next step in Day 1 itinerary: Porta del Popolo

Go to    or to  Book 10 or to my Home Page on Baroque Rome or to my Home Page on Rome in the footsteps of an XVIIIth century traveller.