Chiostro del Bramante, as the name may suggest, is an architectural gem by the Renaissance master, Donato Bramante. The main architect employed by Pope Julius II, and the only one to rival Michelangelo, he was an extremely talented architect. The Chiostro is the cloister of what was originally a monastery complex commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa around 1500.
Today, the building has a different use, as a cultural centre used for various purposes, but this remarkable central structure remains unchanged despite this. It is still a harmonious space made up of elegant geometric lines and perfect proportions, according to Renaissance ideals, which revived classical Greek and Roman aesthetics. Light, bright, airy, and an oasis of calm, it is free to visit and just steps away from the famous Piazza Navona. If you were considering spending time in the city, be sure to browse our luxury villas in Rome, and then carve out some space in your schedule for a trip to this extraordinary space.
Today, the building has a different use, as a cultural centre used for various purposes, but this remarkable central structure remains unchanged despite this. It is still a harmonious space made up of elegant geometric lines and perfect proportions, according to Renaissance ideals, which revived classical Greek and Roman aesthetics. Light, bright, airy, and an oasis of calm, it is free to visit and just steps away from the famous Piazza Navona. If you were considering spending time in the city, be sure to browse our luxury villas in Rome, and then carve out some space in your schedule for a trip to this extraordinary space.
In addition to being a lovely architectural gem worthy of a visit in its own right, the space hosts excellent temporary exhibitions all the time (these you must pay to enter) and you'll find another rather special gem in the adjoining church of Santa Maria della Pace: Raphael’s famous Sibyls fresco (which is also free to visit!).
However, there is one more great reason to drop by; it is one of the most peaceful and pleasant places to grab coffee or an aperitivo in Rome. Located right in the city centre but closed off from the madness and tourist crowds on the streets outside, the internal courtyard is home to a little cafeteria where you can sit out at one of the tables overlooking the cloister with your beverage or a light snack up until 8pm and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. Most pleasant on a sunny day, with light streaming through the big openings that look out onto the courtyard below, it is a well-kept secret among locals that many tourists never manage to stumble upon...but not you because now you know about one of the best little corners to grab a coffee in Italy.
However, there is one more great reason to drop by; it is one of the most peaceful and pleasant places to grab coffee or an aperitivo in Rome. Located right in the city centre but closed off from the madness and tourist crowds on the streets outside, the internal courtyard is home to a little cafeteria where you can sit out at one of the tables overlooking the cloister with your beverage or a light snack up until 8pm and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. Most pleasant on a sunny day, with light streaming through the big openings that look out onto the courtyard below, it is a well-kept secret among locals that many tourists never manage to stumble upon...but not you because now you know about one of the best little corners to grab a coffee in Italy.
Photo credit: Paolo Fefe' / CC BY-ND 2.0