Quirinal Palace

Overview

The Quirinale is the official, staggeringly massive residence of the President of the Italian Republic. Sitting atop the highest of Rome's Seven Hills, it is actually the ninth-largest palace in the entire world (twenty times larger than the White House).

Highlights

• The State Rooms: A vast, seemingly endless sequence of deeply lavish, massively gilded reception halls, featuring some of the absolute finest tapestries and Murano glass chandeliers in Europe.
• The Grand Ballroom: (Salone delle Feste) The breathtakingly opulent room historically used as the papal throne room, now utilized by the President to host visiting heads of state.
• The Gardens: Spread over four massive hectares, the highly manicured, heavily guarded private gardens feature classical fountains, an ancient maze, and sweeping views of Rome.

History

Built in 1583 as an airy, massive summer residence for the Pope to escape the malaria and deadly summer heat of the Vatican. It served as the official papal residence for over 300 years (housing 30 Popes) before the newly formed Italian state violently confiscated it in 1870 to serve as the palace for the Kings of Italy. It became the Presidential Palace in 1946 when Italy abolished the monarchy.

Visitor Tips

• Booking: Because it is a highly active, working government super-palace, access is extremely limited. You absolutely must book guided tours online deeply in advance, and you must carry physical ID/passports.
• Changing of the Guard: Occurs daily in the massive piazza outside at exactly 3:00 PM.