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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

To the Italian visitors of my web site

Piazza Colonna (Book 2) (Map B2) (Day 1)  (View C6) (Rione Colonna)

In this page:
 The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
 Today's view
 Colonna Antonina
 Palazzo Chigi (formerly Aldobrandini)
 The Fountain
 Palazzo del Vicegerente
 Palazzo Ferraioli and Chiesa dei Bergamaschi
 Palazzo Piombino or Palazzo Spada

The Plate (No. 22)

Piazza Colonna

Piazza Colonna is at the midpoint of Via del Corso and more than Piazza Venezia or the Capitol is considered by Romans the very centre of the city. The Column which according to the inscriptions was erected by Marcus Aurelius and dedicated to Antoninus Pius (Colonna Antonina) adds to the idea of Piazza Colonna as the centre of Rome. The view is taken from Via del Corso (green dot in the map below). In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Colonna Antonina; 2) Palazzo Chigi; 3) Curia Innocenziana (or Palazzo di Montecitorio); 4) Palazzo del Vice Regente; 5) Chiesa della Nazione de' Bergamaschi. The small 1748 map shows also 6) Palazzo Ferraioli; 7) Palazzo Piombino.

Small ViewSmall View

Today

The view today

The only change is the Palace of the Vicegerente (Vice Governor), which was largely altered by Pope Gregorius XVI in the first half of the XIXth century and subsequently became the Post Office (see the clock on the top). Today Piazza Colonna is the centre of Italian political life with the adjoining Piazza di Montecitorio.

Colonna Antonina

Colonna Antonina

The XVIth century inscriptions say it was erected by Marcus Aurelius to celebrate his victories in Armenia, Persia and Germany and it was dedicated to his predecessor Antoninus Pius. We now know that it was erected by Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius, to celebrate his father's victories. In 1589 Pope Sixtus V restored the column and christianized it ("ab omnia pietate expurgata") by adding on its top the statue of St. Paul. Domenico Fontana was responsible for this restoration and he signed it. Like those of Trajan's Column the reliefs (although of a lower quality) are a vivid account of Roman life. Bernini developed a project for bringing here also Trajan's Column and having the twin columns in the same place.

Palazzo Chigi

Palazzo Chigi

Palazzo Chigi was begun in 1562 by Giacomo della Porta and completed by Carlo Maderno for the Aldobrandini. In the XVIIth century it was acquired by the Chigi and it was modified by Felice della Greca and Giovan Battista Contini. The palace is today the residence of the Presidente del Consiglio (the Chief of the Government) and has been very recently brought back to its XVIIIth century state (top picture). Below there is a view of Palazzo Chigi as it was until 1999 and some details of the decoration including Chigi's coat of arms (six mountains and a star).

The Fountain

The fountain

Giacomo della Porta designed this very elegant fountain which has been largely copied in Rome and elsewhere. By comparing the print by Vasi with the photo it is possible to notice that the spouting points and the central basin have been modified. This occurred in 1829.

Palazzo del Vicegerente

Palazzo del Vicegovernatore

The neoclassical building erected by Pietro Camporese for Pope Gregorius XVI (1831-46) has a portico made of Roman columns coming from Veii.

Palazzo Ferraioli and Chiesa dei Bergamaschi

Chiesa dei Bergamaschi

The southern side of Piazza Colonna is formed by Palazzo Ferraioli (designed by Francesco Peparelli in 1627 and completed by Giovanni Antonio De Rossi in 1642) and by the little church of S. Bartolomeo dei Bergamaschi (the inhabitants of Bergamo near Milan, for many centuries an independent town and eventually a possession of Venice) (click here for a list of national churches in Rome). The façade of the church was most likely designed by Giovan Battista Contini. Next to it there is an interesting XVIIIth century portal which comes from a demolished palace near Mausoleo di Augusto.

Palazzo Piombino or Palazzo Spada

Palazzo Piombino

The eastern side of Piazza Colonna is now occupied by Galleria Colonna, a large building completed in 1922 with an inner passage with shops. Here was Palazzo Spada al Corso not to be confused with Palazzo Spada alla Regola. This palace was also known as Palazzo Piombino as it was owned by the Boncompagni - Ludovisi, Dukes of Piombino, a little town in Tuscany facing the island of Elba, which they got from the King of Spain in payment for paintings they sold him.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Palazzo Chigi
Il principale ingresso di questo magnifico palazzo sebbene stia sulla strada del Corso, il maggior suo prospetto però si distende sulla Piazza Colonna. Fu principiato con disegno di Giacomo della Porta, seguitato da Carlo Maderno, e poi terminato da Felice della Greca per nobile abitazione de' nipoti di Alessandro VII. perciò sonovi de' quadri del Tiziano, del Perugino, del Tintoretto, di Paolo Veronese, del Caracci, dell'Albano, del Domenichino, del Badano del Guercino, del Pussino, di Guido Reni, di Pietro da Cortona, e di Carlo Maratti: evvi ancora una scelta libreria con centinaia di codici manoscritti Greci, e Latini di sommo valore.
Piazza Colonna
Dalla maravigliosa Colonna coclite, che si vede inalzata in quella piazza, prende essa, e lo Rione il nome; perciò dalla medesima incominceremo il nostro giro. Fu eretta questa stupenda mole dal Senato, e Popolo Romano, e dall'Imperatore Marco Aurelio dedicata ad Antonino Pio suo suocero; e perchè questo non aveva fatta alcuna cosa notabile in guerra, fecevi scolpire le imprese da se medesimo fatte nella guerra Marcomanna, e nella cima porre la statua di quel pio Imperatore. E' alto questo trofeo della romana magnificenza palmi cento settantacinque e vi sono incavati 190. scalini con 40. finestrelle, con che si va comodamente alla sua cima circondata da una ringhiera, ove si gode tutta la Città. Ritrovandosi questa per la sua vecchiezza molto guasta, Sisto V. nell' anno 1589. la ristaurò, ed invece della statua di quell'Imperatore, vi pose quella di s. Paolo Apostolo fatta di metallo dorato alta palmi 19. Gregorio XIII. avendo ornata la piazza colla fontana dell'acqua vergine secondo il disegno di Giacomo della Porta, il Pontefice Alessandro VII. la ridusse nello stato presente. Fanno capo in questa i Mercanti, e Curiali, tantopiù, che in essa sono gli ufizj de' Notari della Reverenda Camera Apostolica, e la residenza del Vicegerente di Roma,
Chiesa di S. Bartolomeo de' Bergamaschi
L'anno 1561. fu quivi da una compagnia di pii fedeli eretta la chiesa sotto il titolo di s. Maria della Pietà, collo spedale per i poveri pazzi; ma poi essendo questi trasportati alla strada della Lungara, presso lo spedale di s. Spirito, nel Pontificato di Clemente XI. fu la chiesa, e spedale conceduti alla Confraternita de' Bergamaschi, la quale rinnovando la chiesa dedicolla a s. Bartolommeo Apostolo, e s. Alessandro martire, e lo spedale fu stabilito per i suoi nazionali, con un collegio per li studenti.
Palazzo Spada al Corso
Dopo la descritta chiesa evvi il palazzo Niccolini, e poi dall'altra parte del Corso ed incontro alla gran colonna, si vede quello della famiglia Spada, che sta sempre alla disposizione de' nobili forestieri, che vogliono dimorare lungo tempo in Roma.

Next plate in Book 2: Piazza di Montecitorio
Next step in Day 1 itinerary: Piazza di Montecitorio
Next step in your tour of Rione Colonna: Piazza di Montecitorio