Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne - Open Tomorrow Only...

Attention Romans!
From Wikipedia:
The Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne is an architecturally influential urban Renaissance palace in Rome. The palace was designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi in 1532-1536 on a site of three contiguous palaces owned by the old Roman Massimo family; built after arson of an earlier structure during the Sack of Rome (1527). In addition the curved façade was dictated by foundations built upon the stands for the stadium (odeon) of the emperor Domitian. It fronts the now busy, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a few hundred yards from the front of the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle. It is not easy to gain an good vista in the cramped street.
[snip]
The chapel on the 2nd floor was a room where the 14 year old Paolo Massimo, son of Fabrizio Massimo, was recalled briefly to life by Saint Philip Neri in March 16, 1583. The interior of the palace is open to public only on that day. Other notable events in the palace of the 16th century including various intrafamilial murders.
To be more precise, in my experience it is only open in the morning of March 16th. The place is usually packed by those 'in the know'. A nice feature is the fact that the palace is staffed by servants wearing the green Massimo family livery. Plus they have retained the old custom of greeting the Cardinal who celebrates Mass there on the 16th with two attendants carrying torches.

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