Piazza Farnese Rome Italy

Piazza Farnese is one of Rome's most elegant squares. It is dominated by the enormous Palazzo Farnese, a magnificent Renaissance building, which was started in 1514 by Antonio da Sangallo, continued by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo della Porta. Built for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (later Pope Paul III), it is now the French Embassy. The palazzo (which is very rarely open to the public) is famous for its magnificent frescoes by Annibale and Agostino Caracci. The twin fountains in the piazza were enormous granite baths taken from the Terme di Caracalla.