In the imaginary triangle now
delineated by the edges of Piazza Montecitorio, Piazza della Rotonda and Piazza
Sant'Ignazio there once stood the "Hadrianeum", dating from the second century A.D.,
which included the latter remains almost intact, facing on to Piazza di Pietra,
with eleven of the original trirteen Corinthian columns.
Beside the Church of Santa Maria in Aquiro is the Palazzo Capranica, built in several
stages by Cardinal Domenico Capranica (1400 - 1458). It was begun in 1425 and incorporated
into the palace as it was built a chapel dedicated to Saint Agnes and several houses
standing in the Piazza. Among these, in 1449, there was the property of the present entrance
to the Collegio Capranica and the cinema.
He was a distinguished scholar of philosophy and theology, and the author of various
boos. In 1465 he founded the "Almo Collegio Capranicense" with the aim of educating
meritorious but poor youngsters, who would enter on an ecclesiastical career. The College
is still active, and enjoys the patronage of the Popes: priests who were to become
distinguished prelates, cardinals and popes (including Pius I and VI) have been educated there.
At the centre of the area of this ancient Hadrianic complex there now stands
Piazza Capranica, near which are to be found other huge columns in cipolline marble
from ancient temple. One stump of these is still visible in vicolo della Spada di Orlando.
S.Maria in Aquiro, the curch wich faces on to the piazza, was one of the most ancient
diaconal churches, with remote origins going back perhaps as early as the pontificate of
Anastasius I, in the fourth century A.D.. In the course of the centuries this church
underwent various reconstructions, and numerous architectural changes, among these being
the restoration ordered by Cardinal Antonio Maria Salvati, wich transformed it into a Latin
cruciform church with three naves, thus giving it its present appearance.
This part, the present "Enoteca Capranica" Restaurant, has preserved right up to the
present the original structure which it possessed in those days, apart from some reinforcing
arches which were built at the end of the seventeenth centutry to support the weight of the
theatre stage. The most ancient parts are that on the right, with the twin-mullion windows,
and the tower.
The Palazzo Capranica is a typical town mansion of the Roman nobility from the
pre-Renaissance period, other examples of which were the Vatican Palace of Nicholas V,
and Pietro Barbo's Palazzo Venezia.
Cardinal Domenico Capranica was born in Rome, son of a courtesan of the Colonnas, the
lord of Capranica Prenetsina, from which he took his name.
In 1694, a theatre with a U-plan and six orders of seats, open to the public, was built
from an original private theatre-salon to the design of Carlo Buratti.
Subsequently, it was rebuilt in 1775 by Egidio Marescotti. In the theatre performances
were given of musical and prose works, and even performances of opera buffa: these were the
years when Carlo Goldoni personally attended a performance of his play "Pamela maritata"
written especially for this theatre.
In 1853, the theatre was rebuilt in masonry by Gaspare Servi, and in 1922 it was finally
transformed into a cinema.
