L’urbanistica di Paolo V tra competizione e innovazione (1605-1621)

Abstract

During the papacy of Pope Paul V Borghese, Rome experienced a phase of significant renewal. While it did not reach the levels of the papacies in the 16th century, there were still important urban interventions. Notable examples include the completion of St. Peter's Basilica, the Acqua Paola Fountain on the Janiculum, Villa Borghese, and the renovations of the Quirinal Palace and Borghese Palace. There is sometimes the impression of an open competition between Pope Paul V and his predecessor Sixtus V, as seen in the case of Santa Maria Maggiore. However, this papacy marked the beginning of a new era not only for the city of Rome but for art in general: it was during this period that the genius of Gian Lorenzo Bernini emerged, and the Baroque style began to take shape. Thus, the papacy of Paul V was a particularly significant and fruitful period for both Italian art and urban planning.