President Sergio Mattarella said
Tuesday the presidential Quirinal palace will be open to the
public longer hours beginning June 23.
The palace will open every day except Mondays and
Thursdays, and guided tours will be doubled in length, he said.
The Quirinal Palace overlooks the entire historic center of
the Italian capital and is seen by many as the most beautiful
building in the city.
Its 1,200 rooms house a priceless heritage of 261 rare
tapestries, furniture, paintings, sculptures and historic
carriages.
The late 16th-century palace was once a papal headquarters,
housing about 30 popes (the last being Pius IX).
At over over 110,000 square meters, it is one of the
largest palaces in the world in terms of surface area (the White
House is 20 times smaller).
The main section revolves around a stately courtyard where
heads of state on official visits are received.
The president's apartment is on the opposite side and
farther from the main entrance, at the end of an extension of
the building known as the "manica lunga" (long sleeve).
The palace's famous gardens run along the side of the
"sleeve".
The Quirinal is too immense to be described in detail, with
its grand halls sumptuously decorated and filled with statues
and busts telling the story of more than four centuries.
One highlight is the Pauline Chapel, which boasts the same
architectonic characteristics and proportions as the Sistine
Chapel.
Built on the orders of Pope Paul V, the Pauline Chapel has
been the venue for a number of papal conclaves.
In 1930, it was also the location for the wedding of
Umberto II, who became the last king of Italy, and Princess
Maria Jose of Belgium.
In addition to the well-known Mascarino spiral staircase -
which led to the pope's chambers - worthy of note is the
so-called Loggia of Honor, where press conferences are held
during consultations for the formation of a new government.
The largest hall of the building is where new governments
are sworn in and official lunches are held.
Used as a dance hall during the time of the Savoy royal
family, its floor is now protected by what is held to be the
second-largest carpet in the world, measuring some 300 square
meters.
The Quirinal has what is held to be a world-class
collection of tapestries, as well as paintings, statues,
carriages, clocks, furniture, priceless porcelain, and glass and
crystal chandeliers throughout the property - including one
measuring a record six meters in height and four across.
Police and Carabinieri paramilitary police both watch over
this important building, with the Cuirassiers' Regiment - a
specialized company of the Carabinieri - as guard of honor.
Known for their golden helmets and plumes, the Cuirassiers
must be at least 1.9 meters tall, skilled horseback riders, and
able to drive large-cylinder motorcycles.
And while former president Giorgio Napolitano did much to
try to cut spending, the Quirinal still has a budget of almost
230 million euros per year, with a total workforce of 1,720.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
