Built for Cardinal Adriano Castellesi da Corneto from 1496, the architect was Andrea Bregno,[need quotation to verify] although others have attributed the design to Bramante.

[1] The style of architecture was influenced by that of the papal chancery, the Palazzo della Cancelleria,[citation needed] one of Rome's first Renaissance palaces, which had been completed a few years earlier.

[citation needed] In 1504, before its completion, the Cardinal (who had fallen from papal favor) presented the palazzo to King Henry VII of England.

The English king Henry VIII later handed it to Lorenzo Campeggio, England's last Cardinal Protector.

[2] Today, the palace faces the wide boulevard named Via della Conciliazione, however, this is the result of 20th century monumental Fascist concept intended to provide an imposing approach to St Peter's Basilica.