Palazzo Ruspoli, Rome


The Palazzo Ruspoli is a Renaissance-style, 16th century aristocratic palace located on Via del Corso 418, where Corso intersects with Largo Carlo Goldoni and the Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina, in the Rione IV of Campo Marzio in central Rome, Italy.

Description

By the 16th-century, the site of the palace was home to the Jacobbili family, and in 1583 was sold to the Florentine mercantile family of the Rucellai. They commissioned completion of the palace from Bartolomeo Ammannati. Ammanati consolidated the long three story facade along via de Corso, and added a loggia along the inner courtyard, frescoed by Jacopo Zucchi, and used to display the family's ancient sculpture collection.
In 1629, the palaces was acquired by the Caetani or Gaetani family, who commissioned a refurbishment of the facade along what is now Largo Goldoni. Circa 1640, the architect Martino Longhi the Younger was commissioned to build the scenographic staircase leading to the courtyard. In 1776, the palace became property of the Ruspoli family, who still own parts of the structure to this day. In 19th century, the palace hosted the famed Caffè Nuovo, and was also home to the exiled Napoleon III.
A description of the staircase in the 18th century noted that the staircase was singular among palaces in Rome for it size and being constructed entirely of marble steps, costing 80 scudi each, arrayed in four flights of 30 steps, ten feet long and two feet wide. Along the stairs were antique busts of emperors Hadrian and Claudius; Bacchus and Silen; Apollo; Mercury; a woman dressed as Hercules; and Aesclepius.