Page 410 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

408  ROME AND LAZIO

r Palazzo Doria
Pamphilj
Via del Corso 305. Map 3 A4.
Tel 06 679 73 23. @ 64, 81, 119, 492.
Open 9am–7pm daily. Closed 1 Jan,
Easter Sun, 1 May, 25 Dec. & 7 -
9 8 by appt for private apartments.
∑ doriapamphilj.it
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is a vast
edifice whose oldest parts date
from 1435. When the Pamphilj
family took over in 1647 they
built a new wing, a splendid
chapel and a theatre.
The family art collection has
over 400 paintings dating from
the 15th to 18th centuries, inclu­
ding a portrait of Pope Innocent
X by Velázquez and works by
Titian, Guercino, Caravaggio and
Claude Lorrain. The opulent Interior of the Pantheon, burial place for Italian monarchs
rooms of the private apartments
retain many of their original Cosmatesque tombs to a bust y Pantheon
furnishings, including Brussels by Bernini. Highlights include Piazza della Rotonda. Map 2 F4.
and Gobelins tapestries, Murano Antoniazzo Romano’s Tel 06 68 30 02 30. @ 116 & many
chandeliers and a gilded crib. Annunciation featuring Cardinal routes. Open 9am–7:30pm daily
Juan de Torquemada, uncle of (9am–6pm Sun). Closed 1 Jan,
the vicious Spanish Inquisitor, 1 May, 25 Dec. 7
and the Carafa Chapel’s frescoes
by Filippino Lippi. The Pantheon, the Roman
In the Aldobrandini Chapel are “temple of all the gods”, is the
the tombs of the 16th­century most extraordinary and best­
Medici popes, Leo X and his preserved ancient build ing in
cousin Clement VII, and near the Rome. The first temple on the
steps of the choir is a stocky Risen site was a conven tional
Christ, begun by Michelangelo. rectangular affair erected by
The church also contains the Agrippa between 27 and 25 BC;
tombs of many famous Italians, the present structure was built
such as St Catherine of Siena and pos sibly designed by
Velázquez’s Pope Innocent X (1650) who died in 1380, and Fra Emperor Hadrian in AD 118.
Angelico, the Dominican friar The temple is fronted by a
t Santa Maria and painter, who died in 1455. massive pedimented portico
screening what appears to be
Outside, Bernini’s spectacular
sopra Minerva sculpture of an elephant holds a cylinder fused to a shallow
an obelisk on its back. dome. Only from the inside
Piazza della Minerva 42. Map 2 F4.
Tel 06 679 39 26. @ 116 & many can the true scale and beauty
other routes. Open 7am–7pm Mon– of this building be appreciated:
Fri; 7:30am–12:30pm, 3:30–7pm Sat; a vast hemispherical dome
8am–noon, 3:30–7pm Sun. equal in radius to the height of
the cylinder giving perfectly
One of Rome’s rare Gothic buil­ harmonious proportions to the
dings, this church was built in building. A circular opening, the
the 13th century over what were oculus, lets in the only light.
thought to be the ruins of a In the 7th century Christians
Temple of Minerva. It was a claimed to be plagued by
strong hold of the Dominicans, demons as they passed by, and
who produced some of the permission was given to make
Church’s most infamous inquisi­ the Pantheon a church. Today
tors and tried the scientist Galileo it is lined with tombs, ranging
in the adjoining monastery. from a restrained monument to
Inside, the church has a superb Raphael to huge marble and
collection of art and sculpture, Simple vaulted nave of Santa Maria porphyry sarcophagi holding
ranging from 13th­century sopra Minerva the bodies of Italian monarchs.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp573–6 and pp596–600

408-409_EW_Italy.indd 408 4/4/17 5:36 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm