Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne

The year is 1532. Rome is still reeling from the devastating Sack of 1527. Amidst the ruins, a powerful family, the Massimos, decides to make a statement. They would build a palace. A palace that would not just replace the three contiguous homes destroyed by fire. It would outshine them. This, my friends, is the story of the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. The Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne is no ordinary palace. Its curved facade, a unique feature, is a testament to the ingenuity of its architect, Baldassarre Peruzzi. He designed the palace to follow the curve of the ancient Roman Odeon of Domitian, remnants of which lay beneath the site. Look closely at the facade. Notice the imposing portico, centered with six Doric columns. These very columns lend the palace its name, “alle Colonne.” Step inside the courtyard. Imagine yourselves transported back to the 16th century. You might overhear whispers of a miracle. Inside these very walls, in 1583, a young Paolo Massimo, son of Fabrizio Massimo, was miraculously revived by Saint Philip Neri. Though the interior is now mostly closed to the public, except on the anniversary of the miracle, the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne still whispers its secrets. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of family, history, and architectural brilliance in the heart of Rome.