Description

Essentials about Palazzo Farnese in brief

Located between the Campo de’ Fiori and the Tiber River in the heart of Rome, Palazzo Farnese is considered the masterpiece of the Roman High Renaissance and is often referred to as the “King of Palaces”. Everyone who was anyone in the 16th century in architecture, building trades and art was involved in the construction of the palace. Its client, Alessandro Farnese, a powerful cardinal of the Curia and later pope, known as a humanist and art collector, spared no expense or trouble in bringing in prominent figures such as della Porta, da Sangallo, Michelangelo, Vignola, Carracci, using the most precious materials and even having several ashlars and marble blocks quarried from the Colosseum in order to build a residence that was sufficient for princely representation.

The history of Palazzo Farnese

Alessandro Farnese, who had been made a cardinal in 1493 at the age of 25 thanks to his sister Giulia, a mistress of Pope Alexander VI, and led a princely life, commissioned the construction of the palazzo in 1514. In 1534, when Alessandro Farnese had been elected pope as Paul III, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger began the work, which was continued by Michelangelo after his death. Pope Paul III commissioned the latter to expand the house to make it suitable as a center of power for the Farnese family. During these alterations (1546), an architrave was added to the central window, which bore the largest coat of arms with papal tiara that Rome had ever seen. When Paul III entered the balcony, the whole facade was to be a single frame for his person.

After the death of the Farnese Pope, the construction work was continued on behalf of his grandson, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese the Younger. It was not until 1589, the year of Alessandro’s death, that Palazzo Farnese was completed by Giacomo della Porta. Then, between 1596 and 1608, several more main rooms were decorated with allegorical frescoes by Annibale Carracci, Agostino Carracci, F. Albani and Domenichino.

Visiting Palazzo Farnese

The palazzo was inherited by the Farnese to the Bourbon Kings of Naples, who in turn sold it to France in 1911. Although the Italian government under Mussolini bought it back in 1936, the French embassy in Italy continues to reside here. The palazzo also houses the École française de Rome. Those wishing to visit the beautiful interior of Palazzo Farnese, with its salons decorated with magnificent tapestries, its beautiful old mirrors, its ceiling paintings and picture galleries, its brocade curtains, terracotta floors, and its antique furniture, must make a written request to the French Embassy. Depending on the season and the number of people, this should be done one to four months in advance.

Website

inventerrome.com

it.ambafrance.org

Opening hours

None. A visit is only possible upon written request to the French Embassy.

Admission fees

None.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Bus lines 23, 280 and n3d: Stop Palazzo Falconiere – Uroboro

By car:

The closest parking garage is Parking Via Giulia.