  Palazzo Altieri (Book 4) (Map B3) (Day 1) (View C7) (Rione Pigna) In this page:
Clemens X became Pope when he was 80, but he lived long enough to
assure his family wealth until today as this large Palace by Antonio De
Rossi testifies. 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) Chiesa del Gesù;
2) Palazzo
Venezia; 3) Palazzo
Panfilio; 4) Palazzo
d'Aste; 5) Giardino Colonna; 6) Palazzo
del Quirinale; 7) Palazzo Rospigliosi.
All these buildings are shown in more details in other pages. The small map shows also: 8) Palazzo Simonetti e Guerra; 9) Convento dei Silvestrini.
To show the whole façade of the Palace, Vasi enlarged the street between the Palace and il Gesù. He also showed as having the same height the two parts of the façade, while the part on Piazza del Gesù has lower storeys than that opposite the church. He also ignored some small differences on the ground floor to the right of the main entrance.
The palace is now owned by a bank, but the coat of arms of Clemens X and the heraldic symbols on the balcony are still there. The Altieri were unable to convince Berta, a widow, to leave her small house and eventually incorporated it in their palace: this explains the two small windows above the main ones. The inner court is worthwhile trespassing.
The entablature of Palazzo Simonetti Guerra in nearby Via del Gesù was thought to belong to an ancient temple, but it is a fine Renaissance work which elaborated classical themes. At the beginning of the street there is an XVIIIth century madonnella.
The Silvestrini belong to a Benedictine order founded in 1231 by S. Silvestro Guzzolini. They were given by pope Pius IV
the church of S. Stefano del Cacco and the adjoining building. In 1734 they enlarged their monastery
by adding a new building designed by Ludovico Rusconi Sassi.
Next plate in Book 4: Palazzi di Campidoglio
Go
to |
All images © 1999 - 2003 by Roberto Piperno. Write to romapip@quipo.it