Chancellery Palace

The Cancelleria Palace, located in the heart of Rome between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Campo de’ Fiori, is one of the first and most important Renaissance buildings in the city. Built between 1489 and 1513 by the will of Cardinal Raffaele Riario, the palace is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture. Although the documents related to its construction were destroyed during the Sack of Rome in 1527, it is believed that the main architects were Baccio Pontelli and Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, with a possible contribution from Donato Bramante. The facade of the Cancelleria Palace, with its elegant and classic simplicity, is considered a model of Renaissance perfection. The facade is made of travertine, coming from the ancient Theatre of Pompey, and features a ground floor with light rustication, followed by upper floors with windows framed by elegant pilasters. This sober yet harmonious design represents a break from the previous Gothic style, marking the beginning of a new era in Roman architecture.The building is also famous for its inner courtyard, a perfect example of Renaissance space. The courtyard is surrounded by a two-story portico with arches on Doric columns on the ground floor and Ionic columns on the upper floor. This courtyard not only serves as a central element of spatial organization, but also offers a place for contemplation and quiet amidst the urban bustle.One of the most fascinating aspects of the Cancelleria Palace is its Sala dei Cento Giorni, so named because the fresco that decorates it was completed in just one hundred days. This cycle of frescoes, created by Giorgio Vasari and his workshop in 1547, celebrates the deeds of Pope Paul III Farnese. Vasari himself recounted how the pope, visiting the construction site, exclaimed that Vasari should have taken a year, not a hundred days, to complete such an imposing work.The palace is also known for being a center of musical activity in the late 17th century, during the residence of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. Ottoboni, a patron of the arts, turned the palace into a focal point of Roman musical life, hosting performances of oratorios by Alessandro Scarlatti and Christmas cantatas. He had a small private theater built by the architect Filippo Juvarra, which became one of the favorite places for artists of the time.An intriguing anecdote concerns the discovery of an underground lake beneath the palace. During excavations in the 1930s, a Roman canal called Euripus was found, which carried water from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct to the Tiber River. This canal, blocked over the centuries, created an underground water basin that led to the formation of the lake under the palace. Among the archaeological discoveries made in this context is the tomb of the consul Aulus Irzio, dating back to Roman times, which adds further historical charm to the building.