QUIRINAL HILL - PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE & PALAZZO DELLA CONSULTA

Quirinal Square and Palazzo del Quirinale & Palazzo della Consulta



The palazzo built in 16th century, comissioned by Pope Paul V on one of the Roman ancient hills - Quirinale.



The building was supposed to be a summer residence for the pope, situated away from the smelly river Tiber (as there was no foul drainage at the time and the all waste were directed staight into the water)became not only a residencebut also a workplace of sevaral popes, kings and presidents nowadays.



The Palace at first was built by Ottaviano Mascherino/ il Mascarino in a renessaince style with porticoed parallel wings and internal courtyard and some time later with the new pope, westwards of the buildings were extended by Domenico Fontana.




Later, the builing gained a bell tower and a chapel designed by Carlo Maderno and Francesco Borromini, richly decorated with frescoes. Carlo Maderno was also a father to the central portal of the building and a balcony above supported by two statues of St Paul and St Peter.




The building also consists a beautiful gardens form 18th century.



In mid 18th century there was another building constructed called Palazzo della Sacra Consulta, to the right hand side of the Palazzo del Quirinale.



Palazzo della Consulta was raised upon the ruins of baths of Constantine and its present facade was designed by Ferdinando Fuga.In early 20th century the building used to be the Mussolini's ministry of colonial affairs.



The piazza del quirinale also features a gigantic Roman marble "Horse Tamers" representing Castor and Pollux, found in the nearby Baths of Constantine .