Urban and architectural projects in Rome Pope Alexander VII

fabio chigi papal nuntius peace of westphalia negotiations, anselm van hulle (c. 1646)



alexander vii, domenico guidi

a number of pontifs renowned urban planning in city of rome—for example, pope julius ii , pope sixtus v—but alexander vii’s numerous urban interventions not diverse in scope , scale demonstrated consistent planning , architectural vision glorification , embellishment of city, ancient , modern, sacred , secular, should governed order , decorum.

central alexander’s urbanism idea of teatro or urban theatre whereby urban interventions became grand settings or showpieces appropriate dignity of rome , head of catholic church. therefore, , although scales vastly different, small santa maria della pace , piazza teatro imposing monumental colonnade forms piazza san pietro in front of st. peter s basilica.

the various urban , architectural projects carried out during alexander’s reign recorded in engravings giovanni battista falda , first volume published in 1665. volumes published giovanni giacomo de rossi under title il nuovo teatro delle fabriche et edificij in prospettiva di roma moderna sotto il felice pontificato di n.s. alessandro vii. rival publication documenting these projects published rossi s cousin giovanni battista de rossi employed young flemish architectural draughtsman lieven cruyl produce drawings of rome, 10 of published in 1666 under title prospectus locorum urbis romae insignium.

his preferred architect sculptor , architect gianlorenzo bernini gave architectural commissions painter , architect pietro da cortona. of 3 leading architects of roman high baroque, francesco borromini fared not under alexander; may because thought borromini’s architectural forms willful borromini notoriously difficult. nonetheless, alexander’s family heraldic emblems of mons or mountains stars , oak leaves, adorn borromini’s church of sant ivo alla sapienza , many other works of reign.

alexander took keen personal interest in urban , architectural projects , made notes of these in diaries. projects in rome included: church , piazza @ santa maria della pace; via del corso, piazza colonna , associated buildings; reworking of porta del popolo, piazza del popolo , santa maria del popolo; piazza san pietro, scala regia , interior embellishments in vatican palace , st. peter s; sant andrea al quirinale; part of palazzo del quirinale; obelisk , elephant in piazza della minerva; , palazzo chigi. palazzo chigi in rome not confused palazzo chigi in s. quirico d orcia in tuscany, or palazzo chigi di formello.