| Palazzo Serristori | |
|---|---|
 The main door of the palace | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
Palazzo Serristori is a Renaissance building in Rome, important for historical and architectural reasons. The palace is one of the few Renaissance buildings of the rione Borgo to have outlived the destruction of the central part of the neighborhood due to the building of Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading to St. Peter's Basilica.
The palace is located in Rome, in rione Borgo, between Via della Conciliazione and Borgo Santo Spirito, with the main front facing east along Via dei Cavalieri del Santo Sepolcro. It lies east of Palazzo Cesi-Armellini and faces to the east Palazzo Della Rovere, two remarkable Renaissance buildings. [1]
At the end of the 15th century on this area lay a small palace property of Cesare Borgia, one of the children of Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503). [2] [3] Afterwards, the building was owned by Cardinal Bartolomeo Della Rovere, a staunch enemy of the Borgias. [2] In 1565 it was pulled down, and a new palace was erected by Averardo Serristori, ambassador of Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo Medici to Pope Pius IV (r. 1559–65). [2] [3] [4] The building became the seat of the embassy of Tuscany before this was moved to Palazzo Firenze in rione Campo Marzio, and remained property of the Serristori family until 1821. [2]
In that year the Apostolic Camera bought it and transformed it in the barracks of the Papal Zouaves. [2] In 1867, at the eve of the happenings leading to the Battle of Mentana, Giuseppe Monti and Gaetano Tognetti, two revolutionaries fighting for the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy, placed a mine in a storeroom under the palace. [5] [6] This exploded on 22 October 1867 destroying a whole wing of the building and killing 23 Zouaves (nine of them Italians, members of the unit's musical ensemble, then soldiers under duty or punishment) and four civilians. [5] The two revolutionaries were both captured, sentenced to death and executed one year later. [6]
After 1870, the year when Rome was annexed to Italy, the edifice became a barrack (Italian : Caserma) of the Bersaglieri, first named "Caserma Serristori" and after 1904 "Caserma Luciano Manara" after the hero of the Roman Republic of 1849. [6] [7] In 1920 the palace became a dwelling-place. [7] In 1927, the building hosting the "Scuola Pontificia Pio IX", founded by Pope Pius IX (r. 1846–78) in 1859, lying in Piazza Pia (at the entrance of Borgo near the Tiber) and led by the religious institute of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy, had to be pulled down since the square had to be enlarged. [8] Two years later, within the framework of the Lateran Pacts the Holy See got back the ownership of Palazzo Serristori, [3] and the school was moved there, with the financial help of Pope Pius XI and of the city of Rome. The palace was modified by architect Alberto Calza Bini to adapt it to the new function. [6] As of 2015 the school remains one of the most important in the city, hosting about one thousand students, attending primary and secondary school, Liceo Classico and scientifico. From the school depend also the sports society "Fortitudo 1908", one of the most traditional in Rome, whose football section (whose members were nicknamed "The lions of Borgo") merged with other two clubs in 1927 to form the A.S. Roma, and the "Filodrammatica Roma", an amateur dramatic society attended by some among the best 20th century Italian actors, like Renato Rascel, Amedeo Nazzari and Andreina Pagnani. [6] [8]
The building, according to a description from the time of Pope Clement VIII (r. 1592–1605), had a front with 9 windows, a yard, and was 50 Roman feet long and 85 Roman feet wide (ca. 15m × 25 m). [2] The main front has square windows and at its center a portal framed by rustication. [9] The motif of the Keys of Heaven is repeated all around the cornice. [9] Above the portal is located a window framed by two lesenes surmounted by a triangular pediment. The window is surmounted by a shield bearing the coat of arms of Pope Pius XI (r. 1922–39). Originally above the portal there was a Latin inscription referring to Averardo Serristori, now moved on the side facing Via della Conciliazione. [9] A new Latin inscription, which recites "AD CHRISTIANAM PUERORUM UTILITATE" ("For the Christian profit of the children"), coming from the destroyed school in Piazza Pia, near Castel Sant'Angelo, has been put in its place. [10]
Internally, the palace still maintains the original, large square Renaissance yard with a loggia with arches bearing up on pillars, and an open gallery, also with arches. [10] A fountain, originally placed at the yards center, has been remounted near the yard's west side. [9] Over the nearby wall it has been placed a Latin inscription praising Pope Pius XI. [10] The interior of the building still shows remains of frescoes with military and patriotic subjects painted after 1870. [10] The palace includes also a chapel, devoted to the Virgin of Mercy. [10] The chapel has a rectangular plan, ended up with a palladian window which introduces into a cantoria covered by a groin vault. [10] The chapel is decorated with frescoes painted in 1934 by Fra Aureliano Scaffoletti. [10] The 19th century altar comes from the destroyed school of Piazza Pia and is surmounted by a representation of the Virgin of Mercy flanked by two angels. [10]
Borgo is the 14th rione of Rome, Italy. It is identified by the initials R. XIV and is included within Municipio I.
Via della Conciliazione is a street in the Rione of Borgo within Rome, Italy. Roughly 500 metres (1,600 ft) in length, it connects Saint Peter's Square to the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber River. The road was constructed between 1936 and 1950, and it is the primary access route to the Square. In addition to shops, it is bordered by a number of historical and religious buildings – including the Palazzo Torlonia, the Palazzo dei Penitenzieri and the Palazzo dei Convertendi, and the churches of Santa Maria in Traspontina and Santo Spirito in Sassia.
Palazzo Jacopo da Brescia was a Renaissance palace in Rome, Italy, which was located in the Borgo rione.
Palazzo Caprini was a Renaissance palazzo in Rome, Italy, in the Borgo rione between Piazza Scossacavalli and via Alessandrina. It was designed by Donato Bramante around 1510, or a few years before.
Palazzo Cesi-Armellini, sometimes known plainly as Palazzo Cesi, is a late Renaissance building in Rome, important for historical and architectural reasons. The palace, which should not be confused with Palazzo Cesi-Gaddi, Palazzo Muti-Cesi, or the destroyed Palazzo Cesi, placed also in Borgo near the southern Colonnade of St. Peter's square, is one of the few Renaissance buildings of the rione Borgo to have survived the destruction of the central part of the neighborhood due to the 20th century construction of Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to St. Peter's Basilica. Today, it is owned by the Society of the Divine Savior and part of it is used as their motherhouse.
Palazzo dei Convertendi is a reconstructed Renaissance palace in Rome. It originally faced the Piazza Scossacavalli, but was demolished and rebuilt along the north side of Via della Conciliazione, the wide avenue constructed between 1936 and 1950, which links St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican City to the centre of Rome. The palace is famous as the last home of the painter Raphael, who died there in 1520.
San Giacomo Scossacavalli was a church in Rome important for historical and artistic reasons. The church, facing the Piazza Scossacavalli, was built during the early Middle Ages and since the early 16th century hosted a confraternity which commissioned Renaissance architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger to build a new shrine. This was richly decorated with frescoes, painted by mannerist artist Giovanni Battista Ricci and his students. The church was demolished in 1937, when Via della Conciliazione was built and the piazza and central part of the Borgo rione were demolished. Many decorative elements still exist, since they were preserved from demolition.
Palazzo Alicorni is a reconstructed Renaissance building in Rome, important for historical and architectural reasons. The palace, originally lying only a few meters away from Bernini's Colonnades in St. Peter's square, was demolished in 1930 in the wake of the process of the border definition of the newly established Vatican City state, and rebuilt some hundred meters to the east. According to the stylistic analysis, his designer had been identified as Giovanni Mangone, a Lombard architect active in Rome during the 16th century.
The Palazzo Rusticucci-Accoramboni is a reconstructed late Renaissance palace in Rome. Erected by the will of Cardinal Girolamo Rusticucci, it was designed by Domenico Fontana and Carlo Maderno joining together several buildings already existing. Due to that, the building was not considered a good example of architecture. Originally lying along the north side of the Borgo Nuovo street, after 1667 the building faced the north side of the large new square located west of the new Saint Peter's Square, designed in those years by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The square, named Piazza Rusticucci after the palace, was demolished in 1937–40 because of the erection of the new Via della Conciliazione. In 1940 the palace was dismantled and rebuilt with a different footprint along the north side of the new avenue, constructed between 1936 and 1950, which links St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican City to the center of Rome.
Giovanni Mangone was an Italian artist active almost exclusively in Rome during the Renaissance. Mangone's skills were manifold: he worked as sculptor, architect, stonecutter and building estimator. Moreover, he was a keen antiquarian and among the founders of the Academy dei Virtuosi al Pantheon. As military engineer, he was renowned among his contemporaries.
The House di Febo Brigotti is a Renaissance house located on Via dei Corridori 44, in the Borgo rione of Rome.
Borgo Nuovo, originally known as via Alessandrina, also named via Recta or via Pontificum, was a road in the city of Rome, Italy, important for historical and architectural reasons. Built by Pope Alexander VI Borgia for the holy year of 1500, the road became one of the main centers of the high Renaissance in Rome. Borgo Nuovo was demolished together with the surrounding quarter in 1936–37 due to the construction of Via della Conciliazione.
Borgo Vecchio, also named in the Middle Ages Via Sancta, Carriera Sancta or Carriera Martyrum was a road in the city of Rome, Italy, important for historical and architectural reasons. The road was destroyed together with the adjacent quartier in 1936–37 due to the construction of Via della Conciliazione.
Piazza Scossacavalli, also named Piazza di San Clemente, Piazza di Trento, Piazza d'Aragona, Piazza Salviati, was a square in Rome, Italy, important for historical and architectonic reasons. The square was demolished together with the surrounding quarter in 1937 due to the construction of Via della Conciliazione.
The Palazzo del Governatore di Borgo, also called Palazzo delle Prigioni di Borgo, Palazzo del Soldano, or Palazzo dal Pozzo, was a Renaissance palace in Rome, important for artistic and historical reasons. Designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, it was demolished in 1936 for the opening of Via della Conciliazione.
Santa Maria della Purità was a church in Rome, important for historical and artistic reasons. Consecrated between 1530 and 1538, the building was demolished together with the surrounding district in 1937-40 during the works for the opening of via della Conciliazione.
San Michele Arcangelo ai Corridori di Borgo was a church in Rome dedicated to St. Michael, the Archangel, important for historical and artistic reasons.
The Ospedale di San Carlo was a building in Rome, important for historical and artistic reasons.
Borgo Santo Spirito is a street in Rome, Italy, important for historical and artistic reasons. From a historical point of view, it is considered the most interesting street in the Borgo district. Of medieval origin, it is linked to the foundation of the ancient fortified hospice for pilgrims from England, the Burgus Saxonum. The street houses the oldest Roman hospital, the Arcispedale di Santo Spirito in Saxia, which gave it its name. Heavily altered during the works for the opening of Via della Conciliazione, it nevertheless avoided the fate of the two parallel streets of Borgo Nuovo and Borgo Vecchio, both destroyed.
Media related to Palazzo Serristori (Rome) at Wikimedia CommonsCoordinates: 41°54′6.74″N12°27′37.50″E / 41.9018722°N 12.4604167°E