Palazzo Farnese in Rome

Palazzo Farnese is the house of the French Embassy in Italy. In 1515, after being commissioned by Alessandro Farnese who happened to be Cardinal at the time, construction of Palazzo Farnese began. Its designer was Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who was also known for helping with the design of St. Peter's.

In 1527, further construction of the Palazzo Farnese was haulted because of the Sack of Rome. In January of 1534, Michelangelo was chosen to work on the courtyard and third story of the building when Cardinal Alessandro Farnese became Pope Paul III.

In 1534 and 1541, the Palazzo Farnese in Rome was remodeled. This was done for Ranuccio Farnese, the papal nephew, by Vignola. In 1589, this was finished for the second Cardinal Alessandro Farnese by a façade built by Giacomo della Porta. Classical sculptures were also inside of the Palazzo Farnese. Michelangelo later came up with the idea to have a bridge built across the Via Giulia to link the garden with Villa Farnesina, or the Pope's villa.

In 1626, after Odoardo Cardinal Farnese's death, further construction of Palazzo Farnese in Rome was at a stand still. After the War of Castro, the property was regained by Duke Odoardo. Later, after the passing of Duke Odoardo, Pope Alexander VII gave Queen Christina of Sweden permission to live in the Palazzo Farnese for a few months, a decision he later regretted because of her servant's unruly behavior. The Palazzo Farnese still stands today.