| Palazzo Chigi | |
|---|---|
Palazzo Chigi, seat of the Italian Government |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1562 |
| Completed | 1580 |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Aldobrandini family Chigi family |
| Architect | Giacomo della Porta Carlo Maderno |
The Palazzo Chigi (Italian pronunciation: [paˈlatt͡so ˈkiːdʒi]) is a palace or noble residence in Rome, overlooking the Piazza Colonna and the Via del Corso. It was begun in 1562 by Giacomo della Porta and completed by Carlo Maderno in 1580 for the Aldobrandini family. In 1659 it was purchased by the Chigi family.[1] It was then remodelled by Felice della Greca and Giovan Battista Contini. It has five floors, a broad stairway that leads to the living rooms, and a courtyard decorated with a fountain, designed by Giacomo della Porta. The fountain has been copied in many sites in Rome and other Italian cities.[2]
In 1878 it became the residence of the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to Italy. In 1916 it was bought by the Italian state and became the seat of the Minister for Colonial Affairs. Later it was the official residence of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1961 it became the official meeting place of Council of Ministers whose President is the head of the Italian government.
Palazzo Chigi is the official residence of Prime Minister of Italy. Since November 2011, the tenant of Chigi is Mario Monti, prime minister of Italy.
Some other Italian institutional buildings: