162.

Prospetto principale del Collegio Romano

This view, along with its companion print, Plate 66 of Palazzo Panfilji, shows the Collegio Romano sharing its piazza with the Palazzo Doria Panphilj (1) whose corner is just visible on the extreme left edge. The Collegio Romano is part of the Jesuit quarter of the city which includes S. Ignazio, Plate 163, on the opposite end of the same block, as well as the Gesù and the Casa Professa, Plate 135 two blocks away. Built as a free school for Grammar, Humanities and Theology by the Jesuit priest Giuseppe Valeriano and aided by Della Porta under Gregory XIII Boncompagni (1572-1585), it affected the shape of the piazza in front of it which was enlarged in 1659 to accommodate the full length of its façade. On the left side of the piazza stands the church and Agostinian nunnery of S. Marta (2). This Jesuit institution was originally founded by S. Ignatius for the malmaritate (unfortunately married women). Deconsecrated after 1870, it became part of the Questura (police department) which it remains to this day. The street leading off into the distance is Via del Piè di Marmo (3) (foot of marble), named after a large marble fragment of an ancient colossal statue (now relocated on Via di S. Stefano del Cacco).