Palazzo Montecitorio

Palazzo Montecitorio is one of the most emblematic places in Italian politics, located in the heart of Rome. Its history dates back to the 17th century, when it was commissioned by Pope Innocent X to the great architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini to become a residence for the Ludovisi family. However, the construction was interrupted by the pope’s death and resumed only thirty years later under Innocent XII, who decided to transform it into the seat of the Pontifical Curia. The main facade of the palace, overlooking Piazza Montecitorio, still retains the strongly concave lines designed by Bernini, characterized by scenic motifs and naturalistic decorations typical of the Baroque period, such as rustic corners and ground floor windows. The project was completed by Carlo Fontana, who added the triple entrance, the bell tower with pediment, and the semicircular arches in the courtyard. In 1871, Palazzo Montecitorio became the seat of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Italy. Due to the growing needs of its new role, the building was expanded according to the design of Ernesto Basile between 1908 and 1927. Basile, a well-known exponent of the Liberty style, added a new wing that includes the large parliamentary chamber, known as the Chamber of Deputies, and redesigned the interior with a taste that combines solemnity and decorative lightness. Distinctive elements of this intervention are the polychrome marble floors, frescoed ceilings, and carefully crafted furnishings in every detail according to the taste of the time. The interior of the palace houses the famous “Transatlantico,” a long corridor next to the parliamentary chamber, decorated by Aristide Sartorio with a large pictorial frieze dedicated to the history of the Italian people. This space, used as a meeting and discussion place for deputies, is enriched by an extraordinary Art Nouveau stained glass window designed by Giovanni Beltrami. The committee rooms, with their original furnishings, reflect the luxury and attention to detail that characterized the work of Basile and his collaborators. Outside, in Piazza Montecitorio, stands the Solar Obelisk, an ancient Egyptian obelisk dating back to the reign of Pharaoh Psamtik II, brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus in 10 B.C. to serve as the gnomon of the monumental sundial known as the Solarium Augusti. This obelisk, over 21 meters high, adds an additional touch of history and grandeur to the architectural complex of Palazzo Montecitorio.