Rome’s Top 10 : Villas and Palaces

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  1. Villa Farnesina

    A
    little gem of gracious living, decorated by some of the greatest
    artists of the Renaissance, including Raphael. The loggias are now
    glassed in to protect the precious frescoes, but they were originally
    open, embodying the ideal of blending indoor and outdoor spaces – a
    concept borrowed from ancient Roman villa designers .




    Fresco, Villa Farnesina



    Villa Farnesina courtyard

  2. Campidoglio Palazzi

    When
    Emperor Charles V visited Rome in 1536, Pope Paul III was so
    embarrassed at the Capitol’s state that he enlisted Michelangelo’s help.
    Work started 10 years later, but Michelangelo died long before its
    completion. True to his design, however, are the double flight of steps
    for the Palazzo Senatorio, the addition of Palazzo Nuovo, the fine
    façades and placement of ancient sculptures.

  3. Palazzo Borghese

    Called
    “the harpsichord” because of its unusual shape, this 17th-century
    palace was once the centre of fashionable entertainments for Rome’s
    papal high society. Its Mannerist courtyard, in particular, was the
    stage for lavish affairs. You can peek in to see the oversize statuary,
    columns supporting the double loggias, and the “Bath of Venus” fountain .

  4. Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne

    Architect
    Peruzzi overcame a number of technical problems to build this
    16th-century masterpiece. Primarily, he had to follow the curve of the
    foundations of the ancient Theatre of Domitian. His colonnaded portico
    is an elegant solution along the street side; the other façade is
    decorated with monochrome frescoes, known as grisaille .




  5. Palazzo Farnese

    Considered the Renaissance palace par excellence,
    reflecting the genius of both Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and
    Michelangelo. Home to one of Rome’s most unscrupulous families, it was
    commissioned in 1517 by Alessandro Farnese, later Pope Paul III .




    Palazzo Farnese

  6. Villa Giulia

    Intended
    for hedonistic pleasure, this was a perfect papal retreat where Pope
    Julius III could indulge his tastes for young boys and Classical
    statuary. Designed by Vignola, Ammannati and Vasari, this 16th-century
    marvel is all loggias, fountains and gardens .




  7. Palazzo Barberini

    When
    Maffei Barberini became Pope Urban VIII in 1623, he decided to build a
    family palace on the (then) edge of town. Architect Carlo Maderno
    designed it as an outsize country villa with three floors of arcades.
    Bernini added the square staircase on the left; Borromini the spiral
    staircase on the right .




  8. Palazzo della Cancelleria

    One
    of the loveliest palaces from the Early Renaissance (late 1400s) – the
    purity of its façade and courtyard is unparalleled. Several ancient
    monuments were pillaged to provide the marble and the 44 portico columns
    inside .

  9. Palazzo Spada

    Built
    around 1550 for a wealthy cardinal, the architect unknown, this palace
    has one of the most ornate Renaissance façades in Rome, featuring
    reliefs evoking the city’s glorious past. However, the inner courtyard
    is the masterpiece, decorated with stucco figures of the 12 Olympian
    gods and goddesses.




  10. Palazzo Venezia

    Rome’s
    first great Renaissance palace (1455–64) was built for the Venetian
    cardinal Pietro Barbo. It is attributed to one of two Florentine
    architects, Alberti or Maiano. You can admire the beautiful palm court
    with an 18th-century fountain from the museum café.