The 'Talking' Palaces
​of Rome

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Palazzo Coppedè a Via Veneto

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At the corner of Via Veneto and Via di San Basilio stands the Palazzo Coppedè a Via Veneto, the last work of the Florentine architect Gino Coppedè. Its facade sports a number of inscriptions in Latin, which has led to it being called the Palazzo Parlante (The Talking Palace). It is by no means unique. The facades of hundreds of palazzi, the length and breadth of Rome, sport inscriptions in Latin.

Often the inscriptions take the form of proverbs or sayings, such as: ROMA LENIA QVIA AETERNA (Rome is slow because it is eternal), BONI VICINI ADSINT MALI ABSINT (Good neighbours are present bad neighbours are absent) and TEMPORE TEMPORA TEMPERA (Temper time with time). 

Palazzo dell' INA

Most of the buildings were erected after 1871, the year Rome became the capital of Italy, and as such lie outside the centro storico. There are, however, exceptions.

Directly opposite the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle, a stone's throw from the Piazza Navona, stands the Palazzo dell' INA, which was erected in 1937. The inscription proclaims: ITALIAE FINES PROMOVIT BELLICA VIRTVS / ET NOVVS IN NOSTRA FVNDITVR VRBE DECOR / ANNO DOMINI MCMXXXVII IMPERII PRIMO (The virtue of war advanced Italy’s borders and a new beauty takes shape in our city. The year of our Lord 1937, the first of the empire). On May 9th 1936, Benito Mussolini announced the annexation of Ethiopia, which signalled the rebirth of the empire (la rinascita dell' impero). 

Vicolo della Palomba 15

In the centro storico there are also a few old houses that sport inscriptions in Latin. In Vicolo della Palomba, for instance, there is a 15th century palazzo which sports two: I · VIA · VIRTVTI · NVLLA · E · VIA (No path to virtue is barred) and  DENIQ · NO · OES · EADE · MIRATVR (Not everybody admires the same things). The first saying is from Ovid, the second Horace.  

Via di San Macello

There is a charming inscription above the entrance to a house in Via di San Macello: LAETE INEUNTIBUS LAETOR (They who enter the house happy make the owner even happier). 

Via di Monserrato 117

Via di Monserrato 117: TRAHIT SVA QVEMQ VOLVPTAS (Each is attracted to what he/she likes). 

Via di Monte Giordano 7

Via di Monte Giordano 7: · VNDE · EO · OMNIA · (All things return to where they come from).

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To be continued...