Torre Caetani, Medieval tower in Sant'Angelo district, Rome, Italy.
Torre Caetani is a medieval building in central Rome, set within a palace complex with a plain facade and three floors arranged around a central courtyard. The structure combines historic stonework with spaces that now serve different institutions.
The building was constructed in 1564 under the direction of Alessandro Mattei and came into the hands of the Caetani family in 1776. This transfer marked a new phase in its history, as the structure remained under this prominent Roman family for centuries to follow.
The rooms inside display paintings by well-known artists, including Paul Bril's landscapes and a fresco by Antonio Cavalucci showing the goddess Diana. The spaces reflect the artistic tastes of the families who lived here.
The building sits at Via delle Botteghe Oscure 32 near Piazza Venezia and now houses the Caetani Foundation and the Brazilian Embassy to the Holy See. Access may be limited since active institutions still use the location.
A chapel within the walls holds a fresco by Roncalli painted between 1590 and 1600 showing the calling of Saint Matthew, work that later shaped Caravaggio's artistic direction. This detail reveals how Renaissance artists in Rome learned from and inspired one another.
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