In the heart of Rome, if you happen to pass between Via Sistina, Via Gregoriana and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, you will find the “House of Monsters,” as it is called because of its eccentric and grotesque decorations. In fact, it is a building that stands out from its neighbors because of its facade.
It was designed and built in 1590 by the painter and architect Federico Zuccari as his home, studio and garden, representing one of the most important examples of an “artist’s house” in Italy. Have you figured out which building we are referring to?
We are talking about Palazzo Zuccari in Rome, whose façade on Via Gregoriana is famous for its doorway and windows depicting gigantic gaping mouths with eyes and eyebrows. These elements, inspired by the monsters of the Sacred Wood of Bomarzo, were meant to frighten visitors at the entrance! But the situation changes inside: beauty amazes the eye.
The style of the palace reflects Zuccari’s creative flair, combining grotesque elements with the elegance typical of Mannerism. Originally, the palace included a square garden decorated with fountains and statues, representing an oasis of peace in contrast to the exterior decorations (the rainbow after the storm).
Fun fact: The palace gate has been associated with Dante’s “gate to hell” because of its eerie appearance.
Can one enter the palace?
Upon Zuccari’s death in 1609, the palace passed to various owners. Among them, Queen of Poland Maria Casimira rented it in 1702 and modified the main facade by adding a six-column portico. In 1904 it was purchased by Henriette Hertz, who converted the garden into a three-story building and established the Bibliotheca Hertziana there.
To this day the palace houses the Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max Planck Institute for Art History, an important international cultural institution. Access to the building is limited to guided tours (organized at certain times of the year) or to scholars (with doctorates in art history or architecture) who use the library.