Palazzo della Farnesina
Encyclopedia
The Palazzo della Farnesina is an Italian
government building located between Monte Mario
and the Tiber River in the Foro Italico
area in Rome
, Italy
. Designed in 1935, it has housed the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
since its completion in 1959.
, Arnaldo Foschini and Vittorio Morpurgo Ballio. It was originally designated to be the headquarters of Italy's National Fascist Party
. Construction was halted in 1943 and throughout World War II
. Despite being titled a "palace" (palazzo) which suggests an ornate royal building, the Palazzo della Farnesina is a functional structure, having nothing in common with ancient Roman palaces.
The facade consists of travertine
. Though this type of facade is commonly linked to the rationalist style of Giuseppe Terragni
, it is, in this case, derived from contemporary fascist ideals.
The building consists of more than 1,300 rooms, is 169 meters in width, and 51 meters tall, and has a total internal volume of approximately 720,000 cubic meters. It is comparable in size to the Caserta Palace
and is one of the largest buildings in Italy.
The Palazzo della Farnesina was completed in 1959 varying only slightly from its original design. Upon completion, it consolidated the 13 separate offices of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. Since completion of the building, the word "Farnesina" has been used synonymously to refer to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its name comes from the land on which it rises, the area between Monte Mario and the Tiber, which were called the Farnese Gardens
(Orti della Farnesina) due to the ownership of Pope Paul III
who was originally named Alessandro Farnese.
, Futurism
, abstract art
, Arte Povera
, Transavantgarde
, and the New Roman School.
In 2008, the collection of Italian art of the Farnesina was augmented by a new collection consisting of the works of the most recent generations of Italian artists. The new Farnesina Experimenta Collection
was inaugurated on 5 July 2008 at the time of Open Doors at the Farnesina.
On March 13, 2009 at Villa Madama
in Rome
, the Foreign Minister
, Franco Frattini, Minister for Culture, Sandro Bondi
, and the Minister of Economic Development, Claudio Scajola
announced a third collection entitled the Farnesina Design Collection.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
government building located between Monte Mario
Monte Mario
-External links :* * *...
and the Tiber River in the Foro Italico
Foro Italico
Foro Italico is a sports complex in Rome, Italy. It was built between 1928 and 1938 as the Foro Mussolini under the design of Enrico Del Debbio and, later, Luigi Moretti...
area in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Designed in 1935, it has housed the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the government of the Republic of Italy. It is also known as the Farnesina as a metonym from its headquarters, the Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome...
since its completion in 1959.
Structure
The nine storey building was designed in 1935 by architects Enrico Del DebbioEnrico Del Debbio
Enrico Del Debbio was an Italian architect and university professor.Born at Carrara, he studied in the Fine Art Academy there specializing in architecture; he moved to Rome in 1914 where he won several architectural awards. He also began to teach in the Scuola Superiore di Architettura...
, Arnaldo Foschini and Vittorio Morpurgo Ballio. It was originally designated to be the headquarters of Italy's National Fascist Party
National Fascist Party
The National Fascist Party was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism...
. Construction was halted in 1943 and throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Despite being titled a "palace" (palazzo) which suggests an ornate royal building, the Palazzo della Farnesina is a functional structure, having nothing in common with ancient Roman palaces.
The facade consists of travertine
Travertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
. Though this type of facade is commonly linked to the rationalist style of Giuseppe Terragni
Giuseppe Terragni
Giuseppe Terragni was an Italian architect who worked primarily under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and pioneered the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism...
, it is, in this case, derived from contemporary fascist ideals.
The building consists of more than 1,300 rooms, is 169 meters in width, and 51 meters tall, and has a total internal volume of approximately 720,000 cubic meters. It is comparable in size to the Caserta Palace
Caserta Palace
The Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence in Caserta, southern Italy, constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples. It was the largest palace and one of the largest buildings erected in Europe during the 18th century...
and is one of the largest buildings in Italy.
The Palazzo della Farnesina was completed in 1959 varying only slightly from its original design. Upon completion, it consolidated the 13 separate offices of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the government of the Republic of Italy. It is also known as the Farnesina as a metonym from its headquarters, the Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome...
. Since completion of the building, the word "Farnesina" has been used synonymously to refer to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its name comes from the land on which it rises, the area between Monte Mario and the Tiber, which were called the Farnese Gardens
Farnese Gardens
The Farnese Gardens are a garden in Rome, central Italy, created in 1550 on the northern portion of Palatine Hill, by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese...
(Orti della Farnesina) due to the ownership of Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
who was originally named Alessandro Farnese.
Art collection
In 1999 the Directorate General for Promotion and Cultural Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an initiative to allow public access to the collections of the Palazzo della Farnesina. This was done by opening galleries and collections to the public via a series of exhibitions with a focus on 20th century Italian art. The Farnesina Collection trace the history of twentieth century Italian art through Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, Futurism
Futurism
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century.Futurism or futurist may refer to:* Afrofuturism, an African-American and African diaspora subculture* Cubo-Futurism* Ego-Futurism...
, abstract art
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
, Arte Povera
Arte Povera
Arte Povera is a modern art movement. The term was introduced in Italy during the period of upheaval at the end of the 1960s, when artists were taking a radical stance. Artists began attacking the values of established institutions of government, industry, and culture, and even questioning whether...
, Transavantgarde
Transavantgarde
Transavantgarde is the Italian version of Neo-expressionism, an art movement that swept through Italy, and the rest of Western Europe, in the late 1970s and 1980s. The term transavantgarde was coined by the Italian art critic, Achille Bonito Oliva, and literally means beyond the avant-garde...
, and the New Roman School.
In 2008, the collection of Italian art of the Farnesina was augmented by a new collection consisting of the works of the most recent generations of Italian artists. The new Farnesina Experimenta Collection
Farnesina Experimenta Art Collection
The Farnesina Experimenta Art Collection is a contemporary Italian art collection exhibited at the Palazzo della Farnesina, the seat of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy.-The collection:...
was inaugurated on 5 July 2008 at the time of Open Doors at the Farnesina.
On March 13, 2009 at Villa Madama
Villa Madama
Villa Madama is situated half way up the slope of Monte Mario Which faces directly north-east and because the hill is curved the part which looks towards Rome faces south and the opposite faces north-west...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, the Foreign Minister
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
As in most countries, in Italy the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is one of the most important ministerial positions...
, Franco Frattini, Minister for Culture, Sandro Bondi
Sandro Bondi
Sandro Bondi is an Italian politician of The People of Freedom. He was appointed on 8 May 2008 to be Culture Minister until March 23, 2011 in Silvio Berlusconi's fourth cabinet.-Biography:...
, and the Minister of Economic Development, Claudio Scajola
Claudio Scajola
Claudio Scajola is an Italian politician.-Career:A long-time Christian Democrat, he was mayor of Imperia in the Eighties, as his father and his brother had been. When Christian Democracy disbanded, he joined Forza Italia in 1995. He was then elected deputy in 1996 and was national coordinator of...
announced a third collection entitled the Farnesina Design Collection.
See also
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the government of the Republic of Italy. It is also known as the Farnesina as a metonym from its headquarters, the Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome...
- Enrico Del DebbioEnrico Del DebbioEnrico Del Debbio was an Italian architect and university professor.Born at Carrara, he studied in the Fine Art Academy there specializing in architecture; he moved to Rome in 1914 where he won several architectural awards. He also began to teach in the Scuola Superiore di Architettura...
- Farnesina Experimenta Art CollectionFarnesina Experimenta Art CollectionThe Farnesina Experimenta Art Collection is a contemporary Italian art collection exhibited at the Palazzo della Farnesina, the seat of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy.-The collection:...
External links
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Collezione Farnesina The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Collection of Contemporary Italian Art.
- G8 photos