Palazzo Orsini Pio Righetti

Palazzo Orsini Pio Righetti is a Renaissance palace situated on Via del Biscione, distinguished by its elaborate stone facade. The exterior features decorative sculptural elements such as pine cones and lions carved directly into the wall surface.

This palace was built around 1450 upon the ancient foundations of a Roman temple that once belonged to a classical theater. The site underwent significant modifications throughout the 1600s when new owners reshaped its interior spaces.

The name reflects the families who owned and shaped this residence over generations. The building displays decorative details and proportions that once signaled wealth and status in Renaissance Rome.

The facade can be viewed from the street, particularly from Campo de' Fiori and Piazza del Biscione where sightlines are clearest. The interior remains off-limits to the public, though the exterior provides a complete sense of its architectural character.

Excavations beneath the palace courtyard in 1864 uncovered a gilded bronze statue of Hercules that had remained hidden for centuries. This rare find was subsequently transferred to the Vatican and offers a tangible link to the classical structures that once stood here.