All the 364 churches of Rome contain monuments of
art or antiquity. Among the palaces, the principal
is the Vatican, an immense pile, in which the most
valuable monuments of antiquity, and the works of the
greatest modern masters are preserved. Here are
the museum Pio-Clementinum, established by Clement
XIV., and enlarged by Pius VI., and the celebrated
library of the Vatican. The treasures carried
away by the French have been restored. Among
the paintings of this palace, the most beautiful are
Raffaelle’s frescos in the stanze and
loggie. The principal oil paintings are
in the appartamento Borgia, which also contains
the Transfiguration, by Raphael. In the Sistine
chapel is the Last Judgment by Michael Angelo.
The popes have chosen the palace of Monte Cavallo,
or the Quirinal palace, with its extensive and beautiful
gardens, for their usual residence, on account of its
healthy air and fine prospect. The Lateran palace,
which Sixtus V. had rebuilt by Fontana, was changed,
in 1693, into an alms-house. Besides these, the
following are celebrated: the palace della Cancellario,
the palace de’ Conservatori, the palace of St.
Mark, the buildings of the Academy, etc.
Among the private palaces, the Barberini is the largest;
it was built by Bernini, in a beautiful style.
Here are the Magdalen of Guido, one of the finest
works of Caravaggio, the Paintings of the great hall,
a masterpiece of Pietro da Cortona, and other valuable
paintings. Of works of sculpture, the Sleeping
Fawn, now in Munich, was formerly here; the masterly
group representing Atalanta and Meleager, a Juno, a
sick Satyr by Bernini, the bust of Cardinal Barberini
by the same artist, and the busts of Marius, Sylla,
and Scipio Africanus, are in this palace. The
library is calculated to contain 60,000 printed books,
and 9000 manuscripts; a cabinet of medals, bronzes,
and precious stones, is also connected with the library.
The Borghese palace, erected by Bramante, is extensive,
and in a beautiful style; the colonnade of the court
is splendid. This palace contains a large collection
of paintings, rare works of sculpture, valuable tables,
and utensils of rich workmanship, of red porphyry,
alabaster, and other materials. The upper hall
is unrivalled; the great landscapes of Vernet, with
which it is adorned, are so true to nature, that,
upon entering, one imagines himself transported into
real scenes. The palace Albani, the situation
of which is remarkably fine, possesses a valuable
library, a great number of paintings, and a collection
of designs by Caracci, Polidoro, Lanfranco, Spagnoletto,
Cignani, and others. The palace Altieri, one of
the largest in Rome, is in a simple style of architecture,
and contains rare manuscripts, medals, paintings,
etc., and valuable furniture. In the palace
Colonna there is a rich collection of paintings by
the first masters; all the rooms are decorated with
them, and particularly the gallery, which is one of
the finest in Europe. In the gardens are the