Palazzo del Banco di Santo Spirito

The Palace of the Banco di Santo Spirito, located in Rome on Via del Banco di Santo Spirito, is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture with Baroque influences. Built between 1504 and 1524 according to a design by Donato Bramante and later modified by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, the palace was originally intended to house the papal mint by the will of Pope Julius II. Here, the silver coins known as “giulii” were minted, some of which were the work of Benvenuto Cellini. The facade of the palace, completed by Sangallo in 1524, is famous for its slightly concave appearance, which anticipated architectural solutions characteristic of the Baroque style. The facade is divided into three floors: the ground floor features rustication decorated with a Greek frieze, while the main floor and the third floor are adorned with windows framed by pilasters. In the center of the facade stands a large rectangular portal, surmounted by the coat of arms of Pope Clement IX, flanked by two windows and additional decorations including pilasters and loggia windows. The massive cornice crowning the building is decorated with statues representing Charity and Abundance, as well as a papal coat of arms in the center. In 1605, after the economic collapse caused by the bankruptcy of some Roman bankers, Pope Paul V founded the Banco di Santo Spirito, designating the palace as its main headquarters. The Santo Spirito in Sassia hospital acquired the building in 1666 by order of Pope Clement IX, making further internal modifications designed by the architect Giovanni Tommaso Ripoli. This event marked a new phase in the history of the palace, which then served as a financial center for centuries. The Palace of the Banco di Santo Spirito maintained its role as a financial hub even in later periods. During the urbanization works for the construction of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the building lost its role as a corner entrance on Via dei Banchi Vecchi and Via dei Banchi Nuovi, but it retained its historical and architectural importance.