Palazzo Farnese

Palazzo Farnese, one of Rome’s greatest Renaissance palazzi, was started in 1514 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, continued by Michelangelo, who added the cornice and balcony, and finished by Giacomo della Porta. Nowadays, it’s the French Embassy and open only to visitors who’ve booked a place on the biweekly guided tour. Visits (with commentary in Italian or French) take in the garden, courtyard and Galleria dei Carracci, home to a series of superb frescoes by Annibale Carracci, said by some to rival the Sistine Chapel. Booking forms can be downloaded from the website and should be sent one to four months before you want to visit. Photo ID is required for entry. The twin fountains in the square are enormous granite baths taken from the Terme di Caracalla.