Palazzo Senatorio

Palazzo Senatorio

Palazzo Senatorio is situated on Rome’s Piazza del Campidoglio, between Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo. It currently houses the official offices of the Rome Municipality, overlooking the ancient Roman Forum, where the mayor’s office offers scenic views.

The building was constructed on the ruins of the ancient Tabularium, the only surviving structure from the Roman Republic period. In front of the staircase stands a large basin surrounded by a group of sculptures: at the center is a statue of Minerva, which was later transformed into the Goddess Roma; to the left is a massive statue representing the Nile River, and to the right, what was originally said to be a statue of the Tigris River is now believed to depict a tiger and wolf representing the Tiber River. Above the palace rises a bell tower, redesigned in the mid-16th century by Martino Longhi il Vecchio after the original medieval tower, which stood 35 meters high, was struck by lightning and destroyed. The bell known as Patarina, which had been taken to Viterbo in 1200, was brought back to be used for summoning the council during special events. Although today’s bell dates back to the 19th century, it is still called Katarina and is used during elections for the Mayor of Rome. The tower is topped with a lightning rod and a statue of Minerva, the guardian deity of ancient Rome.

Some rooms inside the palace are quite interesting: the mayor’s office is located within a tower built in 1473 by Pope Nicholas V for defensive purposes. The Aula Consiliare, named the Aula di Giulio Cesare due to the presence of a statue of Caesar, features a floor inlaid with mosaics from the ancient site of the Roman Senate in Ostia Antica. It now serves as the meeting hall for the City Council. The Sala delle Bandiere (Hall of Flags) gets its name from the 14 flags of the defensive zones established by Pope Pius IX in 1847, which are preserved there.

Palazzo Senatorio

Reason to visit: One of Rome’s most historically significant palaces

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Italy[Italy]

Province/State: Lazio Region [Lazio Region]

City: Rome [Rome]