Palazzo Barberini

Let it never be said that a Barberini didn't spot a bargain

'What the barbarians left untouched the Barberini have destroyed'......when they plundered the copper roof off the Pantheon, but luckily they added the Baldechino to the Vatican and Urban VII, being an astute businessman, also added the beautiful palazzo that Alessandro Sforza was forced to sell in 1625 to his personal holdings.

The sloping site was developed by three great architects each bringing their singular vision to the project. Carlo Modeno was comissioned by the Sforzas to replicate the lines Palazzo Farnese but the design quickly evolved to incorporate a semi-enclosed garden in front of the building....he basically invented the front yard.

The work was started by the Barberini in 1627 and Carlo had a young nephew whom he brought in to help, Francesco Boromini. When in 1627 Carlo died, Boromini was passed over for Bernini, but he continued to work on the project. 

This is a statue of Apollo that belongs to one of the army buildings behind the palazzo....but it's on axis to the great stairs running through the building to the garden.

Courtyard with stairs

The famous helicoidal staircase by Boromini

The main stairway to the piano nobile

The building houses the Galeria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, so they don't allow photographs of the interior and there are tons of docents with eagle eyes....

The garden and the back of the Palazzo with a view of the greenhouses.

The palazzo is right up the street from The Tritone and the Via Veneto...worth a visit.