For some years now, this immense palace (consisting of 1200 rooms!), located on the Quirinal hill, right in the heart of Rome, is open to the public for cultural visits.
Considering the artistical richness of the rooms and the beautiful gardens, the Quirinal Palace is definitely one of the most representative monuments of the capital, but it's not promoted enough, probably due to the rigid opening hours: every Sunday morning from 08:30 am to 12:00.
So, if you spend the weekend in Rome and would like to see something unique, the numerous collections of tapestries, paintings, statues, carriages, furnitures and antiques of all sorts are definitely worthy of a visit. You will also appreciate the incredible collection of Murano (Venice) glass and cristal chandeliers, including the largest chandelier in the world with a height of 20 feet and a diameter of 13 feet and 320 lights!
After the unification of Italy (1861), the Church was confiscated of almost all properties and the Quirinal Palace became the Royal Palace of Savoy Family. Later on, in June 1946 with the proclamation of the Italian Republic became the official residence of the President.So here are preserved some of the country's most important documents, such as the original copy of Italian Constitution, used during the official oath of the Prime Minister and the rest of Ministers at the beginning of their mandate.
All the rooms of Quirinal Palace are extremely refined and decorated according with the demands and expectations of the Popes. The monumental Staircase, commissioned by Paul V, the Hall of cuirassiers, one of the largest spaces of the palace, mainly used
for inspection body of cuirassiers and other official ceremonies attended by the President (public audiences and awards), the Pauline Chapel, inspired to the more famous Sistine Chapel, today used for formal masses on Christmas and Easter, the Loggia of Honor, illuminated by the big windows below the Tower, formerly used for public announcements, the Hall of Bronzino, from the artist entrusted by Cosimo de' Medici in 1546 who made the tapestries in XVI century, currently used as place for diplomatic meetings between the President and foreign Prime Ministers, the President Office, with the famous french desk (middle of XVIII century) and the painting by Borgognone (XVII) at its back, where the President makes the year-end speech, the Hall of Lille's tapestries, decorated with elegant french style tapestries, the Hall of Mirrors, with magnificent mirrors and cristals from Venice and prestigious dance hall by the end of XIX century, the Hall of Parties, the largest room of the whole Palace and also the most solemn, presently used as official place for the oath of italian Government.
Another important part of the Palace is represented by the huge gardens, almost 10 acres wide, divided in 2 areas: the formal garden from XVII century, next to the central nucleus of the Palace and the romantic garden from the second half of XVIII century. The finest building of the gardens is the Coffee House, masterpiece by artist Ferdinando Fuga, used as the reception room during the pontificate of Benedict XIV (middle of XVIII century).
Another particular feature of the gardens of Quirinal Palace is the famous hydraulic organ, which is still working, using the water supply of the waterfalls (60 feet height), enough to play the organ for half an hour.
I recommend the visit of the Quirinal Palace to tourists who already know the city and made the basic tours of Vatican City and Ancient Rome.
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