Photo: Jensens, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace, 1532
Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne
Palazzo
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Period
- Renaissance, 1532
- Style
- Renaissance architecture
- Architect
- Baldassarre Peruzzi
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 41°53′48″ N, 12°28′25″ E
- Address
- Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 141 - Roma
History and description
The Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne is a Renaissance palace in Rome, Italy.
History
The palace was designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi in 1532–1536 on a site of three contiguous palaces owned by the old Roman Massimo family and built after arson destroyed the earlier structures during the Sack of Rome (1527). In addition the curved facade was dictated by foundations built upon the stands for the stadium (odeon) of the emperor Domitian. It fronts the now-busy Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a few hundred yards from the front of the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle. Prince Fabrizio Massimo and his wife Princess Beatrice of Bourbon lived there just after their wedding in 1897.
Entrance
The entrance is characterized by a central portico with six Doric columns, paired and single. Inside there are two courtyards, of which the first one has a portico with Doric columns as a basement for a rich loggia, which is also made of Doric columns. The column decorations gave the name to the palace, alle Colonne. The facade is renowned as one of the most masterful of its time, combining both elegance with stern rustication. The recessed entrance portico differs from typical palazzo models such as exemplified by the Florentine Palazzo Medici. In addition, there is a variation of size of windows for different levels, and the decorative frames of the windows of the third floor. Unlike the Palazzo Medici, there is no academic adherence to superimposition of orders, depending on the floor. On the opposite facade of this palace, opening onto the Piazzetta de' Massimi, the palace connects with the frescoed facade of the conjoined annex, the Palazzetto Massimo (or Palazzetto Istoriato). For many centuries, this used to be the central post office of Rome, a Massimo family perquisite. To the left of the palace is the Palazzo di Pirro, built by a pupil of Antonio da Sangallo.
Interior
The interior ceilings and vestibules are elaborately ornamented with rosettes and coffered roofs. The entrance ceiling is decorated with a fresco by Daniele da Volterra, who represented scenes from the Life of Fabio Massimo, the supposed Roman founder of the Massimo family.
Chapel
The chapel on the second floor was a room where the 14-year-old Paolo Massimo, son of Fabrizio Massimo, was recalled briefly to life by Saint Philip Neri on March 16, 1583. The interior of the palace is open to the public annually only on that day. Other notable events in the palace of the 16th century including various intrafamilial murders.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne».
Timeline
- 1532Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Roma San PietroTrain, nearest
1.6 km as the crow flies
Palazzo Massimo alle ColonneCorso Vittorio Emanuele II, 141 - Roma
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino14.7 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne?
Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 141 - Roma. GPS coordinates: 41.89667, 12.47361.
How old is Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne?
Wikidata dates it to 1532.
What else is there to see near Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo Massimo istoriato (100 m away), Odeon of Domitian (100 m away), Palazzo Braschi (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne — Jensens, Public domain
- Palazzo massimo alle colonne fagacee — Mrngf02, CC0
- Parione - palazzo Massimo alle Colonne 1000334 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- It-roma-pal massimo colonne-150813-pp-2406 — Pedro P. Palazzo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo Massimo Portico 1 — NateBergin, CC BY 4.0
- Palazzo massimo — Baldassare Peruzzi, Public domain
- Nolli - palazzi Massimo a Parione — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Glimpsesofitalia01bate 0429 — Bates-Batcheller, Tryphosa, 1876-1952, Public domain
- Night corso vittorio emanuele II (16405248) — Anthony Majanlahti from Rome, Italy, CC BY 2.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences