Vincenzo Maculani (11 September 1578 - 16 February 1667) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and military architect.
Maculani was born Gaspare Maculani on 11 September 1578 at Fiorenzuola d'Arda. He trained as a bricklayer; his father's profession before entering the Order of Preachers in Pavia in 1594 and changing his name to Vincenzo.
He studied in Bologna, becoming a lector of theology, canon law, practical geometry and architecture. He was appointed as an Inquisitor in Padua in 1627 and in Genoa from 1627 to 1629. Thereafter he was called to Rome by Pope Urban VIII, who named him procurator general of his order during a visit to France.
After Galileo Galilei's falling-out with Pope Urban VIII, Maculani conducted the first interview with the scientist[1]; the precursor to the scrutiny and persecution of the Inquisition which was to come.
Maculani was elevated to cardinal on 16 December 1641[2] and was appointed Cardinal-Priest at the Basilica di San Clemente in 1642. He was elected Archbishop of Benevento in that year and was consectrated in the Sistine Chapel by Cardinal Antonio Marcello Barberini, brother of Pope Urban VIII.
In 1643 he was recalled to Rome to serve the Pope and resigned his archdiocese but Urban VIII died in 1644. Maculani participated in the Papal conclave of 1644 which elected Pope Innocent X. Having been trained in architecture, the new Pope sent him to Malta to oversee construction of the new fortifications for the island. Upon his return he directed the construction of the fortresses of Forte Urbano and Castel Sant'Angelo as well as the wall of the city of Rome[3].
He was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals between 1652 and 1653 and participated in the Papal conclave of 1655 which elected Pope Alexander VII.
Maculani died on 16 February 1667 and was buried at the Basilica of Saint Sabina at the Aventine.