Palazzo Chigi in Rome

Since 1961, the Palazzo Chigi has been the official meeting place and headquarters of the Italian government. The Palazzo Chigi is located on the Via Corso, near Rome's historical center, overlooking the Piazza Colonna, and is halfway between the famed Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia. The main entrance to the Palazzo Chigi in Rome sits on the Piazza Colonna. Next to the Palazzo Chigi, bordering on its right side, is the headquarters of the Italian government's Chamber of Deputies.

The history of the Palazzo Chigi dates back to the mid-sixteenth century. The construction of the Palazzo Chigi was begun in 1562 by Giacomo della Porta, and was completed in 1580 by Carlo Maderno for the Aldobrandini family. The Chigi family purchased the property in 1659, and renovations to the newly named Palazzo Chigi were completed by Giovan Battista and Felice della Greca.

The Palazzo Chigi in Rome has five floors which are accessed via a broad stairway, leading to the building's main living and sitting rooms. The Palazzo Chigi also has a courtyard which contains a famous fountain, copied throughout Italy, designed by Giacomo della Porta.

In 1878, the Palazzo Chigi became the residence of the Austria-Hungary's ambassador to Italy. The Italian government bought the Palazzo Chigi in 1916, and it became the home to the Minister for Colonial Affairs. In 1961, the Palazzo Chigi became the meeting place for the Italian Council of Ministers, the head of which is the Italian Prime Minister.