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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 11 at
the beginning ofthe 16th century. It runs parallel
to Via della Lungara on the other bank of the Tiber.
The two roads were 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
del/'Orazione e Morte. These last benefited from the
patronage of the Falconieri. Their palace is, today,
the headquarters of the Academy of Hungary.
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0razio Falconieri gave Borromini,
around 1645, the task of enlarging and restoring the
building in Via Giulia that he had acqu i red in 1638 from
the Farnese family. The work concerned, in particular, the
fa<;ade overlooking the Tiber. The architect added a new
wing creating an 'T' shape with a three-arched gallery, in
palladium style and topped by a balustrade with masks. |
The facade on Via Giulia
was extended but respected the original design ofthe 16th
century palace, except for the original Hermes with falcon's
head - a clear allusion to the family name - placed in the
corners. Inside, his twelve ceilings are famous, decorated
with complex stucco floral friezes. |
