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The monument decorating this piazza seems to be characterized by its wandering character. That does not have anything extraordinary for horses as those Dioscuri but is rather unusual for an obelisk and a fountain. All the elements of this Fountain of Dioscures knew a rather animated history.
Let us start with the pink granite obelisk which had been imported from Egypt at the end of the 1st c. A.D. with its twin, currently set up in Piazza dell' Esquilino, to decorate Rome. During the centuries the two obelisks disappeared in the ground to be found at excavations near the mausoleum of August. The obelisk of the Quirinal was found in three pieces in 1781 and the pope Pie VI decided to erect it between the Dioscures statues. This obelisk 14,64 m high shows no inscriptions. It is a question if it is a copy made in Rome.
Prior to the obelisk there were the Dioscures Castor and Pollux. These 5 m high statues are copies of Greek originals of 5th c. B.C. They first decorated the entry of the terms of Constantine located on the Quirinal hill. Then they were in Palazzo Rospigliosi built on the site of the terms. Pope Sixtus V had them restored and placed on the Quirinal piazza in 1588 but oriented towards the Palazzo della Consulta. At this time the name “Monte Cavallo" (horse's hill) was given to the place. The same pope added an octagonal basin with another fountain on pedestal in the centre in front of the statues.
In 1786 the pope Pie VI had the Dioscures moved to intercalate the obelisk.
In 1818 the pope Pie VII replaced the fountain by a massive basin taken on Campo Vaccino (the Forum) where it was used as feeding trough for the cattle. The preceding octagonal basin disappeared without leaving traces.
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While reading the history of this palace on the site of the “Presidenza Republica” (in Italian) one realizes the high complexity as well of the history as the architectural evolution of the Palazzo Quirinale.
Since the 16th c. the most famous architects have worked on this construction since Martino Longhi the Elder under Pope Gregory XIII till Ferdinando Fuga under Clement XII.
This palace has been a permanent building site!
The inhabitants were also most varied. The Pope Gregory XIII started by making of the place a summer residence in the form of a villa with gardens. Sixth V transformed the villa into a small palace. His successors such as Paul V increased the palace and gardens. Works continued during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The nice story stopped when in 1809 the troops of Napoleon invaded Rome. They broke down the doors with axes and took along in captivity to France at Fontainebleau the Pope Pie VII who had taken refuge within the palace.
In 1814 the Pope returned to Rome and the Quirinal remained papal possession until 1870 when what remained of the Papal States was overthrown.
In 1871 Rome became capital of the new Kingdom of Italy. The antique papal palace was then transformed into a royal palace. In reality some monarchs like King Victor Emmanuel III (reign 1900-1946 and last Italian King) lived in a private residence elsewhere. During the Kingdom certain rooms were restructured and the decoration was modified as well as the furniture.
Presently most furniture and decoration dates from that period. The monarchy was abolished in 1946 and the Quirinal Palace became the official residence and workplace for the Presidents of the Italian Republic. Address: Piazza del Quirinale.
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When I arrived at this small crossroad of the Via del Quirinale and the Via del Quattro Fontane, I wondered why Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) had ordered to build four fountains at this spot?
Actually this crossroad is the highest point of the Quirinal hill. From here one can see the three obelisks placed by Sixtus V at Santa Maria Maggiore, Trinita dei Monte and Quirinal.
The fountains were included only later in the buildings on the corners among which the church of San Carlo. The distance from corner to corner is rather small so that the perspective is not the best. The present traffic makes the views even worse.
Three of the fountains are from the great architect Domenico Fontana.
The fourth on the north side is by Pietro da Cortona.
Two fountains Il Tevere (Tiber) and Arno show river gods. The two with female figures show Diana and Juno. Address: Crossroad Via del Quirinale and Via 4 Fontane.
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The "Corazzieri" or "Cuirassiers" regiment is presently part of the Carabinieri. Their story as guards of princes or kings in Italy goes back as far as the 15 th. c.
They are elite Carabinieri with a minimum height of 190 cm, with great physical fitness and experienced in a number of military specialities. Due to that minimum height many are originally from North Italy.
Presently there are 297 Corazzieri of which 50 on horses for the service at the Quirinal. When I was in Rome I read that the number of Corazzieri would be reduced by 30 to save money on the presidential budget!
They have different uniforms: "grand gala" with breast plate, "meza gala", "grande uniforme" (winter and summer), all of them with the cuirassiers' helmet, and the usual uniform "da campo".
At the entrance of the Quirinal Palace are also sentries on duty. These are ordinary soldiers. Address: Quirinal.
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En lisant l'histoire de ce palais sur le site de la "Presidenza Republica" (en italien) on se rend compte de la complexité à la fois historique et architecturale du Palazzo Quirinale.
Depuis le XVIe s. les plus grands architectes ont œuvré à sa construction depuis Martino Longhi l'Ancien sous le pape Grégoire XIII jusques Ferdinando Fuga sous Clément XII.
Ce palais a du être un chantier permanent!
Les habitants eux aussi ont été des plus variés. Le pape Grégoire XIII a commencé par en faire une résidence d'été sous forme de villa avec jardins. Sixte V la transforma en petit palais; ses successeurs comme Paul V agrandirent palais et jardins. Les travaux continuèrent au XVII et XVIIIe siècles. Toujours plus grand et plus beau.
La belle histoire s'arrêta lorsque en 1809 les troupes des Napoléon envahirent Rome. Ils enfoncèrent à la hache les portes du palais et emmenèrent en captivité en France à Fontainebleau le pape Pie VII qui s'était réfugié au palais.
En 1814 la Pape revint à Rome et le Quirinal resta possession papale jusqu'en 1870 où Rome devint capitale du nouveau Royaume d'Italie. L'antique palais papal fut alors transformé en palais royal. Certaines salles furent restructurées et le décor fut modifié ainsi que le mobilier.
Depuis l'instauration de la République Italienne en 1946 le calme est revenu. Address: Palazzo Quirinale.
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When standing on Piazza del Quirinale I wondered what the nice Palace on the right side was. It is presently the seat of the Italian Constitutional Court but was built on order of Pope Clement XII by the architect Ferdinando Fuga between 1732 and 1735.
The fact that only one architect was busy with the design explains the homogeneity of this late Baroque façade. The palace initially housed a papal tribunal and secretariat as well as papal guards.
Pope Clement XII, from the Corsini family, who initiated a number of renovation projects in Rome, financed this palace thanks to the revenues of the lottery.
The interior decoration is nice but can only be visited on special occasions. Address: Piazza del Quirinale
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 Palazzo del Quirinale. by breughel
This exhibition is about works of art illegally exported outside Italy and given back by a number of foreign museums (a.o. Paul Getty Museum, LA, Metropolitan Museum of Art N.Y.)
Admission is free and without need for reservation from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 13 h and 15.30 to 18.30 hour.
The works are exposed in the "Sala delle Bandiere" and "Sale della Galleria di Papa Alessandro VII."
On Sunday (8.30 - 12 h) you have to pay 5 € (except EU citizens of less than 18 or more than 65 years old) but you can also see the other rooms "sale di Rappresentanza".
I can't comment about the "Nostoi" exhibition because on the particular Sunday morning I went to the Quirinal there was a patriotic commemoration at the Palace and tourists were not allowed to get inside. I saw a fair number of "brass hats" and the presidential guards, the "Corazzieri" (minimum 190 cm tall) saluting the VIP's.
THIS EXHIBITION IS NOW FINISHED Address: Palazzo del Quirinale.
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 Piazza Quirinale -
Obelisc and Dioscuri. by breughel
Commençons par l'obélisque en granit rose qui aurait été importée d'Egypte à la fin du 1er s. A.D. avec son jumeau, actuellement érigé à la Piazza dell'Esquilino, pour décorer Rome. Au fil des siècles les deux obélisques disparurent dans le sol pour être retrouvés lors de fouilles près du mausolée d'Auguste. L'obélisque du Quirinal fut trouvée en trois morceaux en 1781 et le pape Pie VI décida de le remonter entre les Dioscures du Quirinal. Cet obélisque ne comporte pas d'inscriptions. On peut se demander s'il ne s'agit pas d'une copie Romaine. Elle mesure 14,64 m de haut.
Avant l'obélisque il y avait les Dioscures Castor et Pollux. Ces statues de 5 m de haut sont des copies d'originaux Grecs du 5e s. avant J.C. Elles ornaient à l'origine l'entrée des termes de Constantin situées sur la colline du Quirinal. Ensuite elles se trouvèrent dans le Palazzo Rospigliosi bâti sur le site des termes. Le pape Sixte V les fit restaurer et placer sur la place du Quirinal en 1588 mais orientés face au Palazzo della Consulta. De cette époque date le nom "Monte Cavallo" donné à la place. Ce même pape fit placer en face des statues un bassin octogonal avec une autre fontaine sur piédestal au centre.
En 1786 Le pape Pie VI fit déplacer les Dioscures pour intercaler l'obélisque.
En 1818 le pape Pie VII remplace la fontaine par une vasque massive prélevée sur le Campo Vaccino où elle servait d'abreuvoir pour les bestiaux. Le bassin octogonal précédent disparut sans laisser de traces.
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 by tompt
Pope Gregorius XIII choose to built a summer residence on the highest hill of Rome to escape from it. Building started in 1573. It was rebuilt more than once and in 1735 it got its present shape.
After Italy was united (in 1870) it became the official residence of the king. And in 1947 of the president.
Every day at 16:00 there is a changing of the guards in front of the palace.
The Palazzo is open to the public on sundays from 8:30 to 12:00.
Except: 4 January, 11 April, 25 April, 30 May, 19 December, 26 December, and in the period from 4 July to 5 September.
Entrancefee in 2004 is 5,00 Euro.
Website is in italian only. Leave a Comment
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 A dragon in a helmet
guarding the entrance! by MM212,
3 more photos |
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