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The building faces onto Via Giulia,
the first straight road in Roma, opened by Donato
Bramante through the interest of Pope Julius II at the
beginning of the 16th century. It runs parallel to Via
della Lungara on the other bank of the Tiber.
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The two roads where joined by the
Sixtus Bridge; there should have been another bridge in
front of the Santo Spirito Hospital, but it was never built
- according to a very clear plan that reached the Basilica
of St. Peter's. Splendid noble palaces, like the Sacchetti
Palace, and important churches face onto the road,
characterised today by Antique shops. |
The churches include the
Renaissance church of S. Eligio degli Orefici (attributed to
Raphael), S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini and S. Maria
dell'Orazione e Morte. These last benefited from the
patronage of the Falconieri. Their palace is, today, the
headquarters of the Academy of Hungary |
