Overview
Guidetto Guidetti, Pirro Ligorio, Giacomo Della Porta and Francesco Borromini: four masters of architecture were responsible for the construction of the Sapienza building in the heart of the Sant'Eustachio district. The Roman University or Studium Urbis had been established in the district since the 15th century. In 1562 Pope Pius IV decided to give it a unified location befitting its prestige, entrusting it to Guidetti, who had already worked with Michelangelo. The work lasted for about a century and the result was a large rectangular complex centred on a courtyard, with two rows of arcades designed by Giacomo Della Porta. The long sides of the courtyard serve as a monumental approach to the church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, a masterpiece by Francesco Borromini that rises above the spectacularly concave rear end. Borromini is also responsible for the facade of the building on Piazza Sant'Eustachio and the Sala Alessandrina, commissioned by Pope Alexander VII, which housed the library. The Sapienza University was located here until 1935. Currently, the ancient halls of the building house the State Archives of Rome.
