Palazzetto

chapter iii • architecture & art •
The Great Architect
Giacomo Della Porta
architecture
Giacomo Della Porta (c. 1533 – 1602) was one of the most important Italian architects
and sculptors, who worked on many important buildings in Rome including St. Peter’s
Basilica. He was born at Porlezza, Lombardy, and died in Rome.
Della Porta was influenced by and collaborated with Michelangelo, and Giacomo Barozzi
da Vignola, his teacher of architecture. After 1563 he carried out Michelangelo’s plans
for the rebuilding of the Campidoglio or Capitoline Hill’s open spaces by completing
the facade and steps of Palazzo Senatorio, and the Cordonata Capitolina (the ramped
steps up to the piazza del Campidoglio).
After the death of Vignola in 1573, Della Porta continued the construction of il Gesù,
the mother church of the Jesuit order, and in 1584 modified its façade after his own
designs.
From 1573 he was in charge of the ongoing construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, and later,
in collaboration with Domenico Fontana, completed Michelangelo’s dome between
1588-1590.
The genial imprint of Giacomo della Porta on the project of Palazzo Albertoni Spinola
is revealed firstly through the integration of the two units that enables the ancient
Palazzetto to extend into the new construction seamlessly; second in the creation of
view perspective from the entrance of the ancient building to Santa Maria in Campitelli
Church, through the diagonal trend in the new courtyard of Palazzo and third with
the enjoyment of the Palazzetto secret garden even from the new Palazzo first floor.
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