The Chiostro del Bramante is attached to the Santa Maria della Pace Church and is located in the center of Rome. This 15th century cloister is used as an exhibition space.
Chiostro del Bramante Rome
Address, opening hours and admission
Address: Arco della Pace, 5 – Rome (tel. +39 06 68809035 – 36). Opening hours: Monday till Friday from 10.00 till 20.00; Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00 till 21.00. Admission: Depends on the event.
Description
The cloister was constructed by Bramante in the early years of the 16th century and nowadays functions as a cultural center and art gallery, with an emphasis on modern art.
Apart from the 1000 m2 of museum space, Bramante’s Cloister has a book shop and a cafe (and next to this cafe Raphael’s Sybil can be seen).
The Chiostro del Bramante also has an “Accademia dei Piccoli” for young children. Its aim is to teach children in a playful manner about art.
The top floor of the building also has 3 apartments for rent for tourists.
History
Bramante had ended up in Rome after the fall of the Milanese Count Ludovico Sforza. In Rome he became the house architect of Pope Julius II. He also became one of Michelangelo‘s greatest rivals.
The monastery was built around the year 1500. It had been commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, whose coat of arms can be seen on several columns and doors within the Chiostro. There are also multiple inscriptions glorifying the Cardinal.
The Chiostro was a turning point in the career of Bramante. Before coming to Rome, the buildings he had designed in Milan had primarily been inspired by northern European Gothic architecture.
The floor plan of the Chiostro is square, with a portico around a courtyard and on each side four arches supported by Ionic columns and capitals. Above this is an open gallery, with alternating Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting architraves. The lower section has a vaulted, the upper one a flat ceiling.
There are stone seats underneath the portico. Its walls are decorated with 15th century funerary monuments. The lunettes at the top are decorated with frescoes showing events from the life of Mary.
Santa Maria della Pace Church
The Santa Maria della Pace church belonging to the monastery complex houses the famous fresco “The Sybil” by Raphael.