Palazzo dei Convertendi, Rome

Via della Conciliazione is surrounded by large buildings that belonged to rich families or groups: for example, the building known as the Palazzo dei Convertendi was the one on which the Oriental Congregation rebuilt its palace. The building is from the 16th century and first belonged to the Spinola family in Genova. It passed to Cardinal Castaldi who fitted it out to house heretics who wished to convert to Catholicism (from which it gets its name). It is thought that it was the building in which Raphael died. Features of the elegant building, whose design is attributed to Bramante, are the balcony by Peruzzi which has a large tympanum supported by two pillars and two columns below which stands the triple ashlared entrance.