Palazzo Odescalchi (Book 4) (Map B3) (Day 3) (View C7) (Rione Trevi) In this page:
Palazzo Odescalchi was originally a possession of the Colonna family, sold to Pope Alexander VII Chigi
in 1661. The Chigi sold the palace in 1748 to the Odescalchi. It is also called Palazzo Bracciano, because
the Odescalchi have a large castle in the town of Bracciano. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1745 map here below.
In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Palazzo Colonna;
2) Palazzo Bonelli - Spinelli;
3) Colonna Traiana;
4) S. Maria di Loreto;
5) Palazzo Ruffi. 1), 3) and 4) are shown in other pages. The small map shows also 6) Palazzo Odescalchi.
The palaces to the left of Palazzo Odescalchi are relatively modern buildings which have replaced the palace, Palazzo Ruzzi, shown in the plate. Immediately after Palazzo Ruzzi there was a narrow street leading to Chiesa di San Romualdo, a church pulled down in 1878 to open a larger street linking Piazza di Venezia with the railway station. The church of S. Maria di Loreto is still visible, whilst the tip of the Trajan's Column is hidden by Palazzo Spinelli. The palace was redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini who set a pattern
which influenced many other palaces in Italy and Europe: in particular the high pilasters
starting above the ground/first floor. Unfortunately the proportions of the building
were altered by Nicola Salvi and Luigi Vanvitelli when the Odescalchi, new owners of the palace,
decided to make it wider.
The palace is still a property of the Odescalchi family. On special occasions the public is allowed to have a look at the fine courtyard. Today the palace is known as Palazzo Valentini. Built in 1585 it
is a small but elegant copy of Palazzo Farnese.
According to Vasi it was designed by a Dominican blackfriar, Domenico Paganelli.
In 1781 Vasi's map it is called Palazzo Rezzonico (the family of Clemens
XIII) while in the guide Vasi calls it Palazzo Bonelli.
Next plate in Book 4: Palazzo S. Marco della Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia Next step in Day 3 itinerary: Chiesa di S. Marco Next step in your tour of Rione Trevi: Palazzo dell'Accademia di Francia 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. |