the owner

- 1 -

- 122 - - 123 -

THE OWNER

The apartment owners are Margherita and Filippo Bartolotta
Cingolani, the only grandson of Maria Antonietta Spinola, the first
born of Marquise Carolina Portalupi Spinola, who bought the
property in 1881
After graduating at the European Institute of Design in Rome,
Margherita Montefusco Cingolani, worked with the most important
Italian designers. In 1989 she started the conservative restoration
and upgrading of the Palazzo Albertoni Spinola. In particular she
devoted herself to the rehabilitation and enhancement of the palace
inside Palazzo Albertoni Spinola, and called “The Palazzetto”.
Thanks to her innate excellent taste and experience gained over the
years, today the apartments are restored to their former glory. They
are small architectural jewels.
Margherita will be available to show and describe the Palace to her
guests, a true Renaissance masterpiece by the maestro Giacomo
della Porta. It has some architectural features that make it unique in
Rome, such as: a pensile beautiful hidden backyard, “The Secret
Garden”; a nestled enchanting small prayer room in the spiral
staircase, “The Little Chapel”; and many other particular details.
She will be able to give you not only valuable suggestions for an
unforgettable stay in Rome, but also for the best ways to visit the
most famous attractions of the city - like the Colosseum and the
Vatican Museums -and fascinating other ones, only known by locals.

THE ANCESTORS

chapter vii • ownership • chapter vii • ownership •
Spinola Family
ancestors
Spinola family is one of the most ancient and important Genoese
families, that dominated the history of Genoa, Italy, during the citystate’s
great period, from the 12th to the 14th century. The Spinolas
furnished many consuls to the aristocratic “consular” commune of
12th century.
The Spinolas distinguished themselves as soldiers,
prelates, ambassadors, saints, heroes and literary persons
with family members connections within the Vatican.
ancestors
tomb of pope benedict xv at st. peter’s basilica

chapter vii • ownership • chapter vii • ownership •
Pope Benedict xv
ancestors
Charles Spinola
Blessed Charles Spinola (1564 –
10 September 1622), also known as
Carlo Spinola, was a Jesuit
missionary from Genoa, martyred in
Japan as a missionary.
Pope Benedict xv (21 November 1854 –
22 January 1922), born Giacomo
Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa,
cousin of Maria Antonietta Spinola,
was Pope from September 3, 1914
to his death in 1922. His pontificate
was largely overshadowed by World
War I and its political, social, and
humanitarian consequences in Europe.
ancestors
Matilde di Canossa
Matilde of Canossa (1046 – 24
july 1115), was a powerful feudal
lady in northern Italy and the
chief Italian supporter of Pope
Gregory VII during the investiture
controversy. In addition, she was
one of the few medieval women to
be remembered for her military
accomplishments, which allowed her
dominion over all the territories north
of the church states.
Gianluca Spinola
Gianluca Spinola was an Italian
partisan, descended from a noble
family of Genoa, who was shot by
the Germans at the end of World
War II. He volunteered in the
resistance for the liberation of Italy
and attacked overwhelming German
forces at Castel s. Giminiano. He was
surrounded and taken prisoner on
the 2nd of June, and was killed on the
14th of June 1944.

- 122 - - 123 -

- 124 -