The Palace of Quirinale is a grand structure standing
on the north-west slope of the Quirinal, the highest hill in Rome. It was the
principal summer palace of the pope from 1592 to 1870 and the residence of the monarch from
1870 to 1947; it has been the official residence of the Italian president since 1947. Its
historical importance is probably greater than its architectural significance.
Palace of Quirinale History
Palace of Quirinale was begun by Pope Gregory XIII in
1583 as a summer retreat, on the site of an earlier villa, and by 1592 Clement VIII was in
residence. In 1625 Urban VIII had the palace and the newly enlarged gardens enclosed with
fortifications, a project probably supervised by Carlo Maderno. Construction and expansion
continued until the 18th century.
Quirinale Palace is harmonious in style despite the
fact that many architects played a role in its construction and expansion. Ottaviano Mascherino
originally began the current building as a free-standing villa when he designed the two-storey
loggia on the north side of the courtyard, the clock-tower and an oval spiral
staircase.
Construction at Quirinale
Palace was continued by Giovanni and Domenico Fontana for Sixtus V, and
the main body of the palace was completed under Paul V by Flaminio Ponzio and, after the
latter's death, by Carlo Maderno. The portal of the main façade, by Maderno, is decorated with
statues of St Peter and St Paul. Above is a benediction loggia by Gianlorenzo Bernini,
decorated with a Virgin and Child group by Pompeo Ferrucci. The chapel of the Annunciation was
designed by Ponzio.
The Sala Regia is by Carlo Maderno, as is the Pauline Chapel, which
was built to house conclaves and is on the same scale as the Sistine Chapel. The manica lunga
('long wing'), which housed the cardinals during conclaves, was lengthened and enlarged by
Bernini and Ferdinando Fuga; Fuga built the Coffee House in the garden for Pope Benedict
XIV.
Many artists decorated the interior of the palace in a variety of
styles over several decades; it has a Rococo library and a chinoiserie salon, and some of the
fireplaces are decorated with ancient Roman mosaics brought from Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli. The
chapel of the Annunciation was decorated by Guido Reni in 1610 with the Birth of the Virgin,
the Annunciationand figures and other scenes from the life of the Virgin. The chapel also
contains a Presentation in the Temple and other figures by Antonio Carracci. The Pauline Chapel
has gilded stucco decorations and a sculpted lunette.
Between 1742 and 1743 Giovanni Paolo Panini painted one of the rooms
in the mezzanines with imaginary architectural views and the Coffee House with
historical scenes of Rome. Other paintings in the Coffee House are by Pompeo Batoni, Agostino
Masucci and others. The Appartamento Napoleonico was decorated by Felice Giani
and Francesco Manno. The large garden has an impressive Organ Fountain and a
labyrinth.
Palazzo Quirinale Map&Location
Quirinal Palace Address: Piazza del Quirinale, 00187 Roma, Italy. Get help
with directions using the map provided bellow:
View Larger Map
|