The small church of S. Tommaso in Parione (Parione being the name of the area) is the excuse for showing the perspective leading to S. Maria della Pace. Pope Alexander VII asked Pietro da Cortona to redesign the façade of this church and the access to it and Pietro da Cortona, to facilitate the passage of the carriages, enlarged Via del Parione by cutting the edge of Palazzo della Nazione Picena. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Palazzo Bacicci; 2) S. Tommaso; 3) Collegio Nardini; 4) S. Maria della Pace; 5) Palazzo della Nazione Picena. 4) is shown in detail in another page. The small map shows also 6) S. Biagio della Fossa; 7) Palazzo di Monte Giordano; 8) Palazzetto Turci; 9) Palazzo Tanari; 10) Casa di Teodoro Amayden; 11) Palazzo Gambirasi. The dotted line in the small map delineates the border between Rione Ponte (upper part) and Rione Parione (lower part).

Today

The interior of the church was largely altered in the XIXth century, but the simple XVIth century façade by Francesco da Volterra was not touched (you may wish to see the building as it appeared in a 1588 Guide to Rome). The lions are linked to Pope Sixtus V who lived nearby when he was a Cardinal. Palazzo Bacicci has lost its XVIIIth century looks.

Palazzo della Nazione Picena

Nazione Picena is a reference to the current Italian region called Le Marche which includes Urbino, Ancona, Macerata and Ascoli Piceno, so the coat of arms is split into quarters. Sixtus V was born near Ascoli Piceno and lived many years in this palace, the interior of which has very interesting frescoes.

Palazzo sul Monte Giordano

Monte Giordano is a small elevation between Via del Parione and the river. Here in the XIVth century Giordano Orsini built a fortress commanding the papal road. This elevation is quoted in Dante's Divina Commedia (Inferno XVIII 30-33). The bear of the Orsini is still visible in the courtyard of the XVIIIth century palace which replaced the fortress. The fountain is a baroque work by Antonio Casoni (and the bear - now relocated on the top of the wall - was part of it).

Palazzo Nardini o del Governo Vecchio

The plate makes a reference to Collegio Nardini. The institution was moved there when the large palace built by Cardinal Stefano Nardini in XVth century in the nearby Via del Governo Vecchio became the residence of the Governor of Rome. Later on the Governor moved to Palazzo Madama, so the street was called Via del Governo Vecchio (Street of the Old Government).

S. Biagio della Fossa e Palazzo Gambirasi

The little church of S. Biagio della Fossa was pulled down in 1812 by the French. It was located on the site now occupied by the orange building on the far left. Via della Pace (peace) is actually very peaceful during the day, but at night is pretty busy. The building on the corner is a fine example of XVIIth century window design by Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi. It belonged to Donato Gambirasi, whose name suggests the word gambero (shrimp): this explains the shrimp holding a cross which appears in the main portal.

Palazzetto Turci