Rome Private Tours of the Senate House
Saturday, 3 November and the first Saturday of every month, Palazzo Madama, seat of the Italian Senate, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is completely free of charge and visitors are accompanied by a member of staff on a tour of
the rooms where the history of the country has taken shape. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore one of the Capital’s most evocative ancient ‘palazzi’. The present home of the Italian Senate has always been the nerve centre of politics and business in Rome. Its history goes back to the end of the 15th century when Rome began to evolve from mediaeval town into modern city. The story of Margaret, Duchess of Parma is closely tied to that of the building. Left a widow upon the death of her first husband, Alessandro De’ Medici, she then married Ottavio Farnese and spent long periods of time at the ‘palazzo’, which was nicknamed Palazzo Madama. The vast, elegant reception rooms reveal the influence of the artistic styles that succeeded one another throughout the building’s long history, from the 17th century friezes of the large Sala Italia and gold decorations of the Sala Della Firma, to the busts of great personalities of the time displayed in the Sala del Risorgimento and the gilded wooden ceiling and 17th century works of Falcieri that grace the Anticamera della Balaustra.
Palazzo Madama, Piazza Madama.
Opening hours: every Saturday of the month 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
