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Palazzo Borghese (Book 4) (Map C2) (Day 4) (View C5) (Rione Campo Marzio)

In this page:
The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
Today's view
Eagles and Dragons
Piazza di Monte d'Oro

The Plate (No. 69)

Palazzo Borghese

Palazzo Borghese is the largest family palace in Rome. Of irregular shape, called because of this the Cembalo (harpsichord) it has three façades and Vasi tries to show them all, cheating somewhat with perspective laws. The one on the river looks over Porto di Ripetta , the main one is in Via Condotti (now Via della Fontanella Borghese) and the largest one is shown in this plate. Martino Lunghi and Flaminio Ponzio respectively started and completed the palace. Until 1891 the Borghese Museum was in this building. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Main door on Strada dei Condotti; 2) Prospect of the palace over Porto di Ripetta; 3) Building for the servants of the Borghese family; 4) Stables and coach-house. 2) is shown in another page. The small map shows also 5) Piazza di Monte d'Oro.

Small ViewSmall Map

Today

The view today

The palace is well preserved although traffic and parking make people so busy they may not realize what they are close to. See also the drawing by  Juvarra of the coat of arms on the façade. Here below the side on Via della Fontanella Borghese with the Spanish Steps at the end.

The view over Via Condotti

The palace is a private property, but on special occasions the public is admitted to the inner courtyard (the background of this page shows the imposing loggia) and to the richly decorated garden.

The inner garden

The square in front of the palace hosts now a little market of old books and prints (including Piranesi and Vasi). All the buildings around the square belonged to the Borghese. The stables were replaced by a larger building at the beginning of the XXth century.

The market

Eagles and Dragons

Eagles and dragons

The family symbols are everywhere. See Eagles and Dragons the Exhibition on Paulus V.

Piazza di Monte d'Oro

Piazza di Monte d'Oro

Piazza di Monte d'Oro is behind Palazzo Borghese. It is known for its fruit market which in the 1920s was given a covered structure which spoils the otherwise interesting little square.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Palazzo Borghese
A sinistra della detta chiesa si vede il magnifico palazzo, che per la sua forma dicesi il cembalo di Borghese. Fu questo principiato dal Card. Deza Spagnolo, ma poi fu terminato da Paolo V. per dare comoda abitazione ai suoi nipoti. Quella parte, che corrisponde sul porto di Ripetta è disegno di Flaminio Ponzio, il resto però verso la piazza è di Martin Lunghi il vecchio. È notabile il gran cortile ornato con portici doppi sostenuti da cento colonne tutte di granito egizio: gli appartamenti sono ricchi di quadri insigni, e di arredi preziosi: fra tutti è distinta la cappella domestica per le molte reliquie giojellate, e l'appartamento di D. Giacomo fratello del Principe, ornato, di cose rare e pellegrine; perciò sarà più gradito al lettore il vederle, che il sentirne la narrazione, tanto più, che dal custode viene tutto mostrato.

Next plate in Book 4: Palazzo Madama
Next step in Day 4 itinerary: Collegio Clementino
Next step in your tour of Rione Campo Marzio: Collegio Clementino

Go to    or to  Book 4 or to my Home Page on Baroque Rome or to my Home Page on Rome in the footsteps of an XVIIIth century traveller.


All images © 1999 - 2003 by Roberto Piperno. Write to romapip@quipo.it