| Palazzo Colonna | |
|---|---|
 Palazzo Colonna in 2005 | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| General information | |
| Location | Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, 66 I-00187Rome, Italy |
| Coordinates | 41°53′51″N12°29′03″E / 41.897636°N 12.484214°E /41.897636; 12.484214 |
| Website | |
| galleriacolonna.it | |
ThePalazzo Colonna (Italian pronunciation:[paˈlattsokoˈlonna,-koˈlɔnna]) is a palatial block of buildings in centralRome, Italy, at the base of theQuirinal Hill, and adjacent to the church ofSanti Apostoli. It is built in part over the ruins of an old Romanserapeum, and it has belonged to the prominentColonna family for over twenty generations.
The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hostedDante during his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinals Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy asPope Martin V in 1417.
Following his death, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of theDella Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family whenMarcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece ofPope Julius II. The Colonna family's alliance to theHabsburg power likely protected the palace from looting during theSack of Rome (1527).
Starting withFilippo Colonna (1578–1639), many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects includingGirolamo Rainaldi andPaolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed, one facing Piazza SS. Apostoli and the other facing Via della Pilotta. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery) and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of the gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed byNicola Michetti, with later additions byPaolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza SS. Apostoli), was constructed and recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.
The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinalGirolamo I Colonna and his nephew, the ConnestabileLorenzo Onofrio Colonna. It includes works byLorenzo Monaco,Domenico Ghirlandaio,Palma the Elder,Salviati,Bronzino,Tintoretto,Pietro da Cortona,Annibale Carracci (painting ofThe Beaneater),Guercino,Francesco Albani,Muziano andGuido Reni. Ceiling frescoes byFilippo Gherardi,Giovanni Coli,Sebastiano Ricci, andGiuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role ofMarcantonio II Colonna in thebattle of Lepanto (1571). AnApotheosis of Martin V was painted byBenedetto Luti. There are frescoed apartments completed after 1664 byCrescenzio Onofri,Gaspard Dughet andPieter Mulier II (nicknamed "Cavalier Tempesta"). Other rooms were frescoed in the 18th century byPompeo Batoni andPietro Bianchi.
The older wing of the complex, now known as Princess Isabelle's apartments, but once housing Martin V's library and palace, contains frescoes byPinturicchio,Antonio Tempesta,Crescenzio Onofri,Giacinto Gimignani, andCarlo Cesi. It also contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters likeGaspard Dughet,Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), andJan Brueghel the Elder.
Along with the possessions of theDoria-Pamphilij andPallavicini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.
The ending scene from the 1953 classic filmRoman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, was shot at the gallery.
Media related toPalazzo Colonna (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Chigi Palace | Landmarks of Rome Palazzo Colonna | Succeeded by Palazzo della Consulta |