Descrizione
In Carpegna, time seems to stand still, inextricably intertwined with the history of the noble family that bears its name: the Counts, who over time became the Princes of Carpegna Falconieri. As long-standing lords of these lands, they have left an indelible mark, not only by erecting an imposing palace but also by creating a cultural legacy that endures through the centuries.
The architecture of the Palazzo dei Principi tells tales of heaven and earth, weaving together the human and the divine, and radiating an aura of peace and serenity. Commissioned by Cardinal Gaspare di Carpegna and designed in 1675 by G. Antonio De Rossi – an architect who brought a touch of Rome to the heart of the Marche region – the palace is a fusion of medieval solidity and Renaissance elegance.
Its walls, built with sandstone quarried from the surrounding hills, stand as sentinels of an illustrious history and a vitality that can still be felt today in its halls and corridors. This palace, guardian of the past, stands majestically in the heart of the town of Carpegna, overlooking Piazza Conti and commanding the skyline and the hearts of all who pass by. It covers an area of 6,000 square metres and comprises around a hundred rooms, spread over four floors steeped in history.
On the ground floor are the service areas, such as the kitchen – where the large wood-fired ovens and the basins fed by spring water stand out – and the stables. The first floor is characterised by the spacious and imposing entrance hall, where majestic pillars guard the two main entrances: one opens onto the monumental staircase dominating the main façade; the other, situated on the garden side – an oasis featuring centuries-old trees, a striking fountain and a cistern-dovecote tower – which once led directly to the palace stables. This floor also houses a small private chapel, which preserves its original furnishings, paintings and some 1,600 relics of saints, once personally collected by Cardinal Gaspare.
Along the grand staircase, the great poet Dante acts as a guide, his verses weaving a tapestry of nobility and courage – a thread leading to the throne room, where the tapestry depicting Cardinal Gaspare’s coat of arms reigns supreme as a promise of eternity. The rooms, secret in their beauty and wisdom, jealously guard the family’s heritage of knowledge, whilst the cellars, once stables, conceal stories of wars and liberation. During the Second World War, the palace became a safe haven for priceless masterpieces of art, a refuge from the fury of the bombings, under the expert guidance of Pasquale Rotondi, a hero of dark times. The Rocca Ubadinesca in Sassocorvaro Auditore and the Ducal Palace in Urbino also played a key role in this rescue operation.
