Palazzo della Sapienza, Renaissance palace in central Rome, Italy
Palazzo della Sapienza is a three-story palace in central Rome featuring a courtyard that leads to Sant'Ivo Church inside. A distinctive spiral tower of the building rises above the city's roofline.
The palace was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII and served as Rome's main university until 1935. It then became the State Archive, where the city's documents are now stored.
The building displays a blend of Renaissance and Baroque styles through its stone facade decorated with papal coats of arms. The architectural design reflects the connection between secular learning and religious authority.
The palace sits on Corso del Rinascimento, roughly 2 kilometers from the Colosseum. Regular visiting hours allow guests to explore the rooms and inner courtyard.
The interior chapel Sant'Ivo follows an unusual geometric floor plan shaped like a bee. This form was the family emblem of the pope who commissioned the church.
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