  S. Niccolò de' Perfetti (Book 6) (Day 4) (View C6) (Rione Campo Marzio) In this page:
The very minor church of S. Niccolò gives Vasi an occasion
to show us everyday life in a rich part of Rome. 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) Palazzo Pallavicini;
2) S. Niccolò; 3) Palazzo Medici; 4) Street leading to the church of SS. Biagio e Cecilia (today called Madonna del Divino Amore); 5) Palazzo Conobili.
Most of the buildings are the same as we see in the plate. As usual the street is in reality much narrower than in the plate. S. Niccolò was rebuilt in 1729 on the site of a medieval church. The fresco over the portal of the church is lost.
Palazzo Pallavicini is not mentioned even in very detailed guides of Rome, yet it is a building deserving some attention for the unusual madonna in the fountain in the courtyard. The coat of arms represents the four provinces of the Marche Region (Ancona, Macerata, Pesaro-Urbino and Ascoli-Fermo). On the other side of the street Palazzo Canobili underwent XIXth century restyling.
Palazzo Medici or di Fiorenza was the residence of the Tuscan ambassador in Rome. It has the simplicity of the Florentine Renaissance and several memories of the past. In the elegant courtyard the coat of arms of Julius III (background) and in the apartments of a Cardinal Medici some beautiful frescoes (below) with putti playing with the Medici pills. Other palaces or villas belonging to the Medici were Palazzo Madama, Villa Madama and Villa Medici.
The church goes back to the XIIth century but it was rebuilt in 1731 (design by Filippo Raguzzini) with the exception of the bell tower.
The church was dedicated to S. Cecilia, because according to the tradition it had been erected on Cecilia's father's house.
In the XVIth century it was given to the guild of the mattress-makers and the name of their patron (S. Biagio) was added (click here for a list of the churches belonging to a guild).
In the XIXth century the guild was abolished and the church was dedicated to Madonna del Divino Amore.
Next plate in Book 6: S. Ivo dei Brittoni Next step in Day 4 itinerary: Obelisco di Augusto nel Campo Marzio Next step in your tour of Rione Campo Marzio: S. Ivo de' Brittoni
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All images © 1999 - 2003 by Roberto Piperno. Write to romapip@quipo.it