View of the Galleria Pamphilj

Pope Innocent X (from the rich Pamphilj family) decided to erect the family palace at the Piazza Navona in Rome. It was built by Girolamo Rainaldi in Baroque style. The Galleria in the palace was decorated by Pietro da Cortona. The subjects of the ceiling frescoes are related to the story of Aeneas, a Trojan prince who escaped by sea with a band of companions after the sack of Troy by the Greeks. After many adventures they reached Latium in Italy where they settled. They were the legendary ancestors of the Roman people.