| Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne | |
|---|---|
 Facade of Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne. | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| General information | |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Coordinates | 41°53′48″N12°28′25″E / 41.8967°N 12.4736°E /41.8967; 12.4736 |
ThePalazzo Massimo alle Colonne is aRenaissancepalace inRome, Italy.
The palace was designed byBaldassarre Peruzzi in 1532–1536 on a site of three contiguous palaces owned by the old RomanMassimo family and built afterarson destroyed the earlier structures during theSack of Rome (1527). In addition the curved facade was dictated by foundations built upon the stands for thestadium (odeon) of the emperor Domitian. It fronts the now-busyCorso Vittorio Emanuele II, a few hundred yards from the front of the church ofSant'Andrea della Valle.
The entrance is characterized by a central portico with sixDoric columns, paired and single. Inside there are two courtyards, of which the first one has a portico with Doric columns as a basement for a rich loggia, which is also made of Doric columns. The column decorations gave the name to the palace,alle Colonne. The facade is renowned as one of the most masterful of its time, combining both elegance with sternrustication. The recessed entrance portico differs from typicalpalazzo models such as exemplified by theFlorentinePalazzo Medici. In addition, there is a variation of size of windows for different levels, and the decorative frames of the windows of the third floor. Unlike the Palazzo Medici, there is no academic adherence to superimposition of orders, depending on the floor. On the opposite facade of this palace, opening onto the Piazzetta de' Massimi, the palace connects with the frescoed facade of the conjoined annex, the Palazzetto Massimo (or Palazzetto Istoriato). For many centuries, this used to be the central post office of Rome, a Massimo family perquisite. To the left of the palace is the Palazzo di Pirro, built by a pupil ofAntonio da Sangallo.
The interior ceilings and vestibules are elaborately ornamented with rosettes andcoffered roofs. The entrance ceiling is decorated with a fresco byDaniele da Volterra, who represented scenes from theLife ofFabio Massimo, the supposed Roman founder of the Massimo family.
The chapel on the second floor was a room where the 14-year-old Paolo Massimo, son of Fabrizio Massimo, was recalled briefly to life by SaintPhilip Neri on March 16, 1583. The interior of the palace is open to the public annually only on that day. Other notable events in the palace of the 16th century including various intrafamilial murders.
Media related toPalazzo Massimo alle Colonne (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Palace of Justice, Rome | Landmarks of Rome Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne | Succeeded by Palazzo Mattei |
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