Francesco Valesio

Francesco Valesio was born in Rome on 14 April 1670, to Carlo, medical doctor of Bordeaux and Giovanna Mancini of Rome.[1] He studied under the Jesuits. He enter in the clerical state and was appointed Abbot, even if he remained always in Rome, living near San Carlo al Corso.[2] In his home he kept a large library, which became a meeting point for scholars and antique dealers.[3] He worked as censor of hagiographies.[2]

His main interests were archeology (he published an essay with title Spiegazione di alcune statue del Campidoglio, i.e. explanation of some statues of Campidoglio) and history (he published Memorie istoriche della città di Corneto, i.e. historical memories of the Etruscan town of Tarquinia).

His most important work is the Diario di Roma, a diary of the everyday events in Rome which runs from 9 August 1700 to 10 March 1711 and from 24 December 1724 to 27 March 1742, two months before his death. Pope Benedict XIV on 2 September 1745 ordered that the manuscripts with his diary were conserved in the Archivi del Popolo Romano.[1]

Other works of him are Museum Cortonense about the ancient times of the town of Cortona and a new edition of the work of Fioravante Martinelli Roma ricercata nel svo sito con tutte le curiosità, che in essa si ritrouano, tanto antiche, come moderne which contains uncommon facts and places of Rome.

He died on 17 May 1742 in Rome and was buried in the church of S. Maria in Posterula.[2]