Palazzo Farnese: A Restoration of Grandeur
A magnificent restoration project at Rome’s Palazzo Farnese, home to the French embassy in Italy and the École française de Rome, has reached its completion after nearly four years of meticulous work.
The newly revived palazzo was unveiled on a momentous day by Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri and France’s ambassador to Italy Martin Briens.
This restoration of the resplendent façade of Palazzo Farnese marks 150 years since France established its embassy at this historic site in 1874.
Supervised by the city’s cultural heritage authorities, the extensive restoration focused on the façade and cornices of this majestic High Renaissance gem in the heart of Rome.
The €5.6 million endeavor was made possible through the joint efforts of the French ministries for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and of Higher Education and Research.
Additionally, as part of the Caput Mundi conservation initiative, funded by Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) in preparation for the Vatican’s Jubilee Year 2025, the two fountains in front of the embassy in Piazza Farnese were also restored.
These fountains, originally Roman granite basins from the Baths of Caracalla transformed into fountains in the 17th century, are part of a broader project aimed at restoring significant fountains across the city ahead of the Jubilee.
“The restoration of the façade is truly remarkable, a marvel that brings back the original splendor of this architectural masterpiece to the delight of Romans and the world,” expressed Gualtieri in a statement. “Now the entire piazza shines like never before in decades.”
Ambassador Briens also acknowledged the significance of the moment, stating that “it is a pivotal day for us all and for the people of Rome who can once again admire the façade in all its glory. We aimed for completion by the Jubilee, and we have achieved it.”
Brief history of Palazzo Farnese
Palazzo Farnese has been a central figure in Rome’s history, politics, and art, hosting a myriad of diplomats, royalty, artists, popes, and cardinals over the centuries.
The construction of the main façade began in 1513 under Antonio da Sangallo the Younger while the palace was already inhabited by its owner, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese.
Michelangelo took over the project after Sangallo’s death in 1546, making modifications to the designs, including the creation of the palace’s cornice and the second floor of the internal courtyard.
Subsequently, Vignola supervised the construction of the façade on Via del Mascherone starting from 1550.
Lastly, in 1573, Giacomo Della Porta undertook the construction of the rear wing and completed the façade facing the Tiber in 1589.
Palazzo Farnese is renowned for its Carracci Gallery, a Baroque masterpiece featuring frescoes of mythological scenes primarily completed by Annibale Carracci between 1597 and 1607.
Cover image: Palazzo Farnese, 9 December 2024, photo Wanted in Rome.
