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The history of Palazzo Chigi

Palazzo Chigi has been the seat of the Italian Government since 1961 and is located in one of the most famous areas of Rome’s historic centre: along via del Corso, almost halfway between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia.

The entrance is on Piazza Colonna, which takes its name from the two-thousand-year old Column of Marcus Aurelius that stands in front of the main door. The right side of the palace faces the seat of the Chamber of Deputies.

Palazzo Chigi’s architectural history dates back more than three centuries, during which time it has been redesigned several times, continuously being adapted for its different uses.

The Palace started life as a group of simple homes belonging to different families that were rebuilt after being demolished. In 1578, they were purchased by the Aldobrandini family.

Work began to build Palazzo Chigi’s façade in 1578, alongside the other development work that was being carried out in the surrounding area at the time.

The most important construction work was completed during this initial period, although work continued throughout the 1600s, with the interiors being modified throughout the century by the various different owners. The final renovation work was completed when ownership passed over to the State in 1916, at which time the palace became the headquarters of the Ministry of Colonies, before going on to house the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The political and historical events that have occurred in Italy over the last two hundred years can be seen in Palazzo Chigi’s architectural developments, as well as by looking at the people who have lived in the palace and the various ways in which it has been used over time.

For the first few centuries, it was mainly home to important families of Papal Rome. Towards the end of the 18th century, on the other hand, it was mostly used as the Spanish embassy’s headquarters in Rome. 

During the 19th century, Palazzo Chigi saw important agreements and alliances being formed and, in 1878, it became the headquarters of the Austrian-Hungarian Ambassador to Palazzo del Quirinale, giving it the nickname at the time of the "Mole Austro-Vaticana" (“Austrian-Vatican palace”).

At the beginning of the 20th century, despite being owned by the Chigi princes, the palace was actually used as the headquarters of the Austrian embassy, bearing witness to frequent irredentist protests regarding Trento and Trieste.

In 1916, the State purchased the palace in order to use it for the Ministry of Colonies. In 1922, Mussolini, as President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, named Palazzo Chigi the new home of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and moved in himself, transferring the Ministry of Colonies to Palazzo della Consulta, in front of the Quirinale Palace.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained based in Palazzo Chigi until 1961, when it was moved to Palazzo della Farnesina (specially constructed for this purpose).
It was at this point in time that Palazzo Chigi, with its central and prestigious location, became the seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which up until then had been housed in Palazzo del Viminale (where the Ministry of the Interior is currently based).