Thesis title: Il Palazzo e il “Palazzetto” degli Orsini a Campo de’ Fiori. Il dominio di una residenza aristocratica su un foro mercantile
The architectural complex in Campo de’ Fiori, comprising the palace now known as Orsini Pio Righetti and the adjoining “Palazzetto” Orsini, is the result of the transformation into modern forms of an urban fortress built on the site of the ancient Theatre of Pompey, which can still be traced in the contemporary urban fabric. Despite its extremely important role in defining the backdrop of Campo de' Fiori, one of Rome’s main commercial forums, there is currently no monograph entirely dedicated to the Orsini complex. This doctoral research aims to fill this gap, at least in part, by reconstructing the evolutionary phases of the building and evaluating its close synergy with its immediate urban surroundings, subject to the baronial rule of the family and conceived as a Foro Orsini. After outlining the medieval origins of the family’s settlement in the area, the investigation focuses on the period between the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Orsini family obtained full jurisdiction over the square and their palace established itself as one of the most prestigious residences for rent in the city. Through the analysis of published and unpublished documentation, it has been possible to identify the various protagonists involved in the design and construction of the Orsini architectural complex – prior to its acquisition by the Pio di Savoia family – who were active within the Roman Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon, whose biographical profiles allow us to clarify the nature of the Orsini family’s links with the European aristocratic élite. Attention is paid to a previously unknown aspect of great importance for understanding the building complex in Campo de’ Fiori: the attribution of the 16th-century extension incorporating the medieval Torre dell’Arpacasa, known as the “Palazzetto”, to Giovanni Mangone, an architect from Sangallo’s circle and designer of the Renaissance loggia directly overlooking the square. About the use of Palazzo Orsini for income in the 17th century, it is worth noting the discovery of an unrealised renovation project by Orazio Torriani, relating to the proposal to rent it to Prince Cardinal Maurizio di Savoia, with innovative layout solutions to be compared with those implemented in Montegiordano. The research offers a diachronic reconstruction of the great architectural palimpsest consisting of the Palazzo and the “Palazzetto” Orsini, placing them in a broader reflection on the relationship between baronial power, architecture and urban transformations in modern Rome.