Palazzo dei Penitenzieri
Encyclopedia
Palazzo dei Penitenzieri is a palace in Rome
, Italy
, facing Via della Conciliazione
. It is also known as Palazzo della Rovere.
The construction of the palace was started in 1480 by cardinal Domenico della Rovere
, a relative of Pope Sixtus IV
, perhaps under the design by Baccio Pontelli
. The palazzo was built in the late 15th century, between 1480 and 1490; the Florentine architect, Baccio Pontelli, modelled it closely on the architectural style of Palazzo Venezia, the most important building in 15th century Rome. Five halls of the piano nobile, are now the official reception rooms of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and one of them is home to an extremely important ceiling by the artist Pinturicchio
The current name was added during the reign of pope Alexander VII, who moved here the Papal confessors known as penitenzieri. It now houses a hotel and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
.
, with a tower on the left. The name of Domenico della Rovere is written on the windows of the first floor, while the coat of arms on the façade is that of Pope Clement XIV
.
The interior has a court on two levels: a lower one with a portico featuring octagonal pillars and a pit, and a upper one with gardens. The palace has a rich internal decoration, often depicting fake architectures. The most notable is that of the Semi-Gods Ceiling
, a gallery of mythological and allegorical figures painted by Pinturicchio
in 1501.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, facing Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione is a street in the Rione of Borgo within Rome, Italy. Roughly 500 m 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...
. It is also known as Palazzo della Rovere.
The construction of the palace was started in 1480 by cardinal Domenico della Rovere
Domenico della Rovere
-Biography:He was born at Vinovo, near Turin, and was a relative of Pope Sixtus IV, and took advantage of the latter's extensive nepotism.In 1478 he was appointed as Bishop of Tarantaise succeeding his brother, Cristoforo. In the same year, on 10 February, he was created cardinal of San Vitale by...
, a relative of Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
, perhaps under the design by Baccio Pontelli
Baccio Pontelli
Baccio Pontelli was an Italian architect. Baccio is an abbreviation of Bartolomeo.Pontelli was born in Florence. Passing the phase of artistic formation with Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano in Florence, and influenced by Francesco di Giorgio Martini during the trip to Urbino , he was an in-layer...
. The palazzo was built in the late 15th century, between 1480 and 1490; the Florentine architect, Baccio Pontelli, modelled it closely on the architectural style of Palazzo Venezia, the most important building in 15th century Rome. Five halls of the piano nobile, are now the official reception rooms of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and one of them is home to an extremely important ceiling by the artist Pinturicchio
The current name was added during the reign of pope Alexander VII, who moved here the Papal confessors known as penitenzieri. It now houses a hotel and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
.
Description
The building has a massive façade inspired by that of Palazzo VeneziaPalazzo Venezia
The Palazzo di Venezia is a palazzo in central Rome, Italy, just north of the Capitoline Hill. The original structure of this great architectural complex consisted of a modest medieval house intended as the residence of the cardinals appointed to the Church of San Marco...
, with a tower on the left. The name of Domenico della Rovere is written on the windows of the first floor, while the coat of arms on the façade is that of Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
.
The interior has a court on two levels: a lower one with a portico featuring octagonal pillars and a pit, and a upper one with gardens. The palace has a rich internal decoration, often depicting fake architectures. The most notable is that of the Semi-Gods Ceiling
Semi-Gods Ceiling
The Semi-Gods Ceiling is a painting work by Italian Renaissance master Pinturicchio, dating to c. 1490 and housed in the rigt wing hall of the Palazzo dei Penitenzieri in Rome, Italy...
, a gallery of mythological and allegorical figures painted by Pinturicchio
Pinturicchio
Bernardino di Betto, called Pintoricchio or Pinturicchio was an Italian painter of the Renaissance. He acquired his nickname, Pintoricchio , because of his small stature, and he used it to sign some of his works....
in 1501.