180.

Monte di Pietà, e banco pubblico

The Monte di Pietà was a pawn broking institution founded by Sixtus V Peretti (1585-1590) in a small building on Via dei Coronari (NN 595: Palazzo dell'antico Monte di Pietà). It was so successful that it soon outgrew its original quarters and in 1603 was moved to the building dominating this view under Clement VIII Aldobrandini (1592-1605). The Monte di Pietà prospered further and expanded until it occupied the whole block and part of the block visible at the end of the Piazza del Monte di Pietà. The Popes lost control of the institution in 1870, but it still thrives to this day under the direction of the Banca di Roma. As the modern photograph reveals, a door identical with the door in this print has been opened symmetrically about the fountain (which no longer exists). The large building at the end of the piazza is the Palazzo Grande Barberini (2). As Vasi points out, it was the residence of Urban VIII Barberini (1623-1644) while still a cardinal. Once he became Pope, he built a much grander palace on the slope of the Quirinal hill, Plate 36. In the mid 18th century the former entrance hall of the palazzo was turned into a small church dedicated to S. Teresa and S. Giovanni della Croce (1). The church space is now a print workshop its small facade completely gone and replaced by a window. The casamento (3) (apartment houses) to the right of the church abuts the church of S. Martinello.