Places in Guided Walk

For the guided walk assignment, I chose three places that were related to the Doria Pamphilj family. The first place that I decided to stop at was the Doria Pamphilj Gallery. I chose this spot because this is actually in the Doria Pamphilj Palazzo and is where the family used to live. Some of the building is still used as apartments, but another party has been renovated and turned into a gallery displaying the family's collection. This gallery holds a more personal meaning to me because directly below the gallery is our classroom that we're in everyday. To be more specific, directly about our classroom is a chapel that holds the bodies of St. Justin and St. Theodora. There are also a lot of great paintings to see and rooms that have been refurbished to look as they did when the family lived there in the 17th-18th centuries.

My second place is Santa Maria in Cappella which is where the girls in my program live. This is a place that was owned by Donna Olimpia Pamphilj and in the 17th century, she turned the courtyard into a playground for children. However, in 1860 her descendants turned the place into an elderly care facility which half of it is still used for today. The other half is where our apartments are located. We're allowed to go into the courtyard, but we aren't supposed to mingle with the elderly people that live here.

The third place that I chose was a place that I haven't been to yet, but it looks beautiful. It's the Villa Doria Pamphilj. This is one of Rome's largest public parks. It was built in the mid-17th century by Pope Innocent X. There are still some summerhouses and fountains that have survived to this day.

Doria Pamphilj Gallery

One of the reoccurring themes in my blogs has been Doria Pamphilj. If you want to learn more about her, check my previous blogs! Anyway, in the same Palazzo as my school (Palazzo Doria Pamphilj) there is an art gallery called Doria Pamphilj Gallery. There is an entrance fee of 8 Euros (5 for students) which is a great deal! According to our guidebook, there are hundreds of pieces of art in this gallery, including works by Titian, Caravaggio, Lorenzo Lotto, Guercino and Claude Lorrain. One of the things that would be interesting to see is the portrait of Pope Innocent X Pamphilj by Velaquez. I think people would be interested in seeing this because this is the Pope that cause so much controversy by letting Doria Pamphilj "rule" the Vatican. There is also an amazing sculpture of Doria Pamphilj. Also, I would be interested in going to this museum because this is the same woman that used to own the old convent that I live in. Small world. I have included a picture of the inner courtyard of the gallery.. enjoy : )

Traveling from the Termini to Palazzo Doria Pamphili

The Palazzo Doria Pamphili is an art gallery that has pieces that date back to the 15th century. Right next to the Palazzo Doria Pamphili is the Palazzo del Collegio Romano which is where my classroom is located.

Coming out of the Termini, make a left onto Via Cavour. Follow Bia Cavour until you reach Via dei Fori Imperiali. At this intersection, the Forum will be right in front of you. Also, if you look down the street to the left, you will be able to see the Colosseum rising up from the distant horizon. Make a right onto Via dei Fori Imperiali. The Capitol will be on your left. Continue straight until you reach Via del Corso. Go straight onto the Corso (you aren't on it for long.) Make a left onto Via Lata. This will bring you into the Piazza del Collegio Romano. The Palazzo Doria Pamphili will be on your left once you come into the opening where cars are parked.

The entire Palazzo Doria Pamphili is made out of stone and has been described as "a great island of stone in the heart of Rome." The outside may appear dark and dreary. However, you are able to see a beautiful courtyard through one of the arching entryways into the Palazzo. There is a large green banner hanging over the entrance to the museum.

Palazza Doria Pamphili

I found out a little more information about the woman who used to own my apartment (Donna Olimpia Pamphili.) Apparently she used to own the building that our classroom is in too! It's called Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. I don't know why the last letter is a "J" but I have seen this last name written with both a "J" and an "I". According to our guidebook, the old parts of this building date back to 1435. There are two courtyards and a gallery inside. The gallery holds over 400 paintings from the 15th to the 18th century. There is also a portrait of Pope Innocent X and the sculpture of Donna Olimpia Pamphili that I posted before. I definitely want to look at that gallery for myself and get some of my own pictures of that sculpture!! I'm posting a picture of our building that I found online at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Pigna_-_piazza_Collegio_romano_e_palazzo_Doria_Pamphili_1000422.JPG. Our classroom is on the left side on the first floor. It looks like there are white things in the windows. Those are actually shutters that are on the inside. They use those instead of blinds or curtains. I think it's really interesting to learn about this woman and what she did during her time in Rome. I feel like that will give me a better understand of my apartment.

Donna Olimpia Pamphili

So I was talking to one of my professors today in class and I learned a little bit more about the woman who used to own our apartment building/old convent. The woman's name was Donna Olimpia Pamphili. She was known as the "Mistress of the Vatican." Apparently this woman caused a TON of controversy in the Vatican. Her husband, Cardinal Gianbattista Pamphili, was the late brother of Pope Innocent X. She was known as the Mistress of the Vatican because of her influential power over the Pope, the cardinals and the church in general. When Pope Innocent X came into power, many of the people in Rome and Italy were outraged. They knew that this meant that Donna Olimpia would be ruling the Vatican. They went so far as to call her Pope Olimpia I and portray her in pictures as the Pope with the keys of St. Peter and Innocent at her side looking like a woman in a bonnet and curls. This is one of the most interesting things I have learned about a place that affects me so much here in Rome!

*All of the information in this post came from http://www.mistressofthevatican.com/shock.htm . I strongly encourage you to check out this site!