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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Small Piers and Globes SMALL PIERS AND GLOBES
(globes in Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati)

A trace of the past is sometimes hidden in small decorative elements of a monument.

Clemens VIII

Pope Clemens VIII (Ippolito Aldobrandini) made a lot of use of the theme of his coat of arms (a stripe and a star) to decorate buildings he erected or restored (see S. Cesareo in Palazio or Palazzo di Campidoglio).
The balustrades of Villa Aldobrandini in Rome have little globes showing the family symbols.

Globe in Villa Aldobrandini in Rome

Clemens VIII completed the decoration of the southern nave of S. Pietro in Vaticano and outside the Basilica one can find small piers with the family symbols.

Pier in St. Peter

The large and imposing Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati is all decorated with stripes and stars, even the garden shows them.

Villa Aldobrandini

For a more extensive research on Clemens VIII see

Paulus V

The eagles and dragons of Pope Paulus V (Camillo Borghese) were particularly suitable for marking the pope's large enterprises. Here below you see little piers at the entrance of Palazzo del Quirinale.
The monument which still reminds Romans of the pope is Acqua Paola celebrating the aqueduct bringing water to the western part of Rome. The fountain decoration is complemented by elegant small piers with the eagle and the dragon. Pope Alexander VII who built steps to allow easier access to the fountain had a similar little pier with his mountains.

QuirinaleAcqua Paola

Urbanus VIII

The industrious bees of Pope Urbanus VIII (Maffeo Barberini) were used by Bernini in many buildings and statues he erected for the pope.
They also appear on the globes at the entrance of Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo.

Castel Gandolfo

Innocentius X

The doves of Pope Innocentius X (Giovan Battista Pamphilj) rest on the small piers at the entrance of Palazzo Panfili in Piazza Navona.

Palazzo Panfili

Innocentius XIII

Not all the popes had symbols suitable for decoration, but the coat of arms of Pope Innocentius XIII (Michelangelo Conti) was made of a chequered eagle which made it clearly identifiable. Unfortunately the pope did not have time enough to mark with his eagle many accomplishments. The lack of many eagles is however compensated by the fact that they can be found at the start of the Spanish Steps and around the obelisk of Piazza S. Pietro.

Piazza di Spagna e Piazza S. Pietro

Benedictus XIV

Pope Benedictus XIV (Prospero Lambertini) had a very simple coat of arms, made of vertical red and yellow stripes. The little piers outside SS. Pietro e Marcellino are a reminder of his financing the erection of the church, but maybe today someone can believe the stripes are there to make sitting on the pier uncomfortable!

SS Pietro e Marcellino



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