Palazzo Della Rovere, Renaissance palace near Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Palazzo della Rovere is a Renaissance palace in Rome, close to the Vatican, along the Via della Conciliazione. The building has a notable facade with Guelph cross windows and a square tower at its northeast corner.
Cardinal Domenico della Rovere commissioned the palace between 1480 and 1490, with Florentine architect Baccio Pontelli overseeing the work. It stands among the great urban residences built by Rome's powerful families during that period.
The interior walls carry frescoes attributed to Pinturicchio's workshop, showing mythological scenes drawn from classical antiquity. Visitors who gain access to the decorated rooms can see these 15th-century paintings at close range.
The palace now houses an equestrian order and is not open to casual visitors. Anyone wishing to visit should arrange access in advance, especially when coming as a group.
Excavations in 2023 uncovered the remains of an ancient Roman theater beneath the palace courtyard. This find shows that the ground beneath the building has served very different purposes across the centuries.
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