Rome - Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne

The Palazzo Massimo, a master work by Baldassare Peruzzi built in 1532-36, lies between the Piazza Sant'Andrea della Valle and Piazza Pantaleo. The residences of the Massimo which had previously stood here were destroyed in 1527 during the famous Sack of Rome, the plundering of the city by Charles V's troops.

The palace is a characteristic example of the Mannerist school of architecture (between the Renaissance and Baroque), which relieves the weight of the masonry by breaking up and transforming the basic geometric forms and giving them an elegant and playful effect. The portico, supported by six Doric columns, enhances the unique character of this palace.