Palazzo de Cupis might not be the most impressive architectural presence in Piazza Navona, yet it is one of the most robust buildings here. Indeed, what it lacks in architectural excellence, it makes up in wideness. Adjacent to the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, the palace was built somewhere during the 15th century, and significantly enlarged in the first half of the 16th century, under Giadomenico de Cupis, back then a cardinal.

What is interesting is during the 18th century, the palace was home to a theater of small size, and, given its prestigious location, it was the temporary home or residence of plenty of clerics and statesmen, such as the early 17th century Ambassador of Spain. While nowadays the facade of the palace is rather dull (the one opening in Piazza Navona) and rather compact, much of its former decorative patrimony having been removed or replaced or, in all cases, altered beyond recognition, the building still remains a sight to admire. Keep in mind that the ground floor of the palace is now filled by shops, which is of no little significance for holidaymakers of Rome who want to spice their stay in the capital with the thrill of a shopping spree in the city’s most famed public square.

Name:
Palazzo de Cupis (De Cupis Palace)
Address:
17, Via di Santa Maria dell’Anima, Rome, Italy