Aldobrandini family facts for kids
| Country |  ItalyFormer countries:  Republic of Florence.svg){kind=small} Grand Duchy of Tuscany Papal States Kingdom of Italy |
|---|---|
| Titles | |
| Founded | 14th century |
The House of Aldobrandini is an old and important Italian noble family. They first came from Florence, a famous city in Italy. In the Middle Ages, they held very important jobs in the city government there. Today, the Aldobrandini family lives in Rome and has strong connections to the Vatican.
Contents
How the Aldobrandini Family Grew Powerful
The Aldobrandini family became very powerful and rich in Rome when Ippolito Aldobrandini became the Pope (the leader of the Catholic Church). He took the name Pope Clement VIII.
Pope Clement VIII helped his family by arranging important marriages. These marriages connected the Aldobrandini family with other powerful Roman families. For example, they became linked to the Pamphili family. They also made connections with the Farnese family and the Borghese family through marriage. One famous marriage was when Olimpia Aldobrandini married Paolo Borghese.
Famous Aldobrandini Buildings
The family's name is also on the Palazzo Aldobrandini in Rome. A "palazzo" is a very large, fancy house or palace. This one is located on the Quirinal Hill. The Aldobrandini family started building this palazzo around the time Ippolito Aldobrandini became Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605).
In 1600, Pope Clement VIII bought some land on the Quirinal Hill. In 1601, he gave this property to his nephew, Pietro Aldobrandini, who was also a cardinal. The old buildings on the land were taken down, and work began on a new villa and its gardens. This palazzo was not the family's main home. They had even grander places in Rome. This building was mostly used for important events and ceremonies.
Even more famous is the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, a town near Rome. A "villa" is a large country house, often with beautiful gardens. This villa is also called Belvedere because it has a charming view of the entire valley, all the way to Rome.
Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini had this villa rebuilt. It was designed by famous architects like Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno, and Giovanni Fontana. The villa has a grand front from the 1600s. It also has interesting features like a double gallery at the back, spiral staircases, and a large "Water Theatre." The Water Theatre is a special area with fountains and water features. The villa also has a magnificent park. Inside, you can see paintings by famous artists from the Mannerist and Baroque periods.
Family Connections Today
Over time, the Aldobrandini family connected with other noble families like the Doria, Pamphilj, and Landi families through marriage. These families eventually became known as the Doria Pamphilj family. The Aldobrandini family's palazzo in Rome, with its amazing art collection, is now the Doria Pamphilj Gallery. You can visit it today!
The Aldobrandini family name continues through a branch of the Borghese family. This happened because Olimpia Aldobrandini married Prince Paolo Borghese in the 1600s.
Today, the head of the Aldobrandini family is Prince Camillo Aldobrandini, who was born in 1945. His heir, or the person who will take his place, is Don Clemente Aldobrandini, born in 1982.
Other Important Aldobrandini Family Members
- Alessandro Cardinal Aldobrandini (1667–1734), who became a cardinal in 1730.
- Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini
- Ippolito Cardinal Aldobrandini (Jr.)
- Silvestro Cardinal Aldobrandini
- Cinzio Passeri Cardinal Aldobrandini, a nephew of Pope Clement VIII, who became a cardinal in 1593.
- Pietro Cardinal Aldobrandini (1571–1621), who became a cardinal in 1593 by Pope Clement VIII.
See also
In Spanish: Aldobrandini para niños
- Palazzo Chigi
- Villa Aldobrandini
- Aldobrandini Madonna (disambiguation)
- The Aldobrandini Wedding, a famous ancient Roman painting
