Palazzo Caprini

Palazzo Caprini is a Renaissance building organized across two levels with five bays, featuring rusticated stonework on the ground floor and paired Doric columns on the upper story. The lower level was designed for commercial use with shops, while the upper floor contained residential spaces with large windows and decorative details.

Architect Donato Bramante designed this palazzo between 1501 and 1510 for Adriano de Caprini, an apostolic protonotary of Viterbo. The structure came into being during a transformative period when Rome was reshaping itself through Renaissance principles.

The building served as home and workplace to the artist Raphael from 1517 until his death in 1520. It became a place where one of the Renaissance's greatest masters lived and created his works.

The palazzo is located in the Borgo district and is viewable from the street, making its architecture accessible to visitors at any time. You can observe the exterior details and proportions without needing special arrangements or access.

This building introduced an innovative method using cast mortar in wooden forms to create the appearance of cut stone. The technique quickly spread throughout Rome and influenced how later structures were designed.