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Piazza del Campidoglio
Tel. 06- 3996 7800
Bus: 63, 70, 75,
81, 87, 95, 160, 170, 204, 628, 716
Open: 9am- 8pm Tue- Sun
Closed: Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25
Palazzo Senatorio is a historic building in Rome, the town hall
of the city since 1144, making it the oldest town hall in the
world. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries on the ruins of
the Tabularium and the temple of Veiove, it was renovated during
the 16th century under the supervision of Michelangelo
Buonarroti and later of Giacomo Della Porta.
Located in
Piazza del Campidoglio, on the hill of the same name, it is
flanked by the Renaissance Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo
Nuovo, which make up the complex of the Capitoline Museums.
Until the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870, it
was the seat of the Senator of Rome.
Ancient Foundations (Pre-12th Century)
The palace stands atop
significant ancient Roman structures:
Temple of Veiovis (or
Vediovis): A temple dedicated to this deity existed here since around
196 BC. It was rebuilt in the 1st century AD with a distinctive
rectangular plan, small protruding portico, travertine podium, and
cella. Remains are incorporated into the site.
Tabularium (78 BC):
Built as the public archive for Roman laws and official documents
(tabulae). Only an arcaded gallery survives, reused in the palace's
foundations (peperino blocks appear in the left side and bell tower).
This gallery may have served as a public passage.
These ruins
provided a sturdy base for later construction. The Capitoline Hill, once
Rome's primary religious center (home to the Temple of Jupiter Optimus
Maximus), shifted toward institutional importance in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Origins and the Birth of the Roman Commune (12th–14th
Centuries)
In 1143–1144, during a period of unrest against papal and
imperial authority, the Renovatio Senatus (Renewal of the Senate)
established the medieval Roman Commune (Comune di Roma). This marked the
birth of self-governing municipal institutions.
The Palazzo Senatorio
became the seat of the Senators (magistrates administering justice and
the city) in 1144, transforming a fortress-like structure on the ancient
ruins into Rome's civic headquarters. It is the oldest surviving city
hall remains in continuous municipal use.
Early features included:
A building with two towers (one housing the Patarina bell, taken as
spoils from Viterbo).
An L-shaped plan after 13th-century
renovations: façade facing the piazza and an extension toward the Roman
Forum/Aracoeli side.
Key rooms: A lower hall (first floor) for
justice administration (originally open with round arches); an upper
hall for audiences and the General Council (later the Julius Caesar
Hall).
The site symbolized civic power. Popes like Boniface IX
(late 14th century) added buttresses partly to fortify and symbolically
curb municipal autonomy. Towers were added under Martin V (c. 1427) and
Nicholas V (1451).
Renaissance Redesign: Michelangelo and Beyond
(16th Century)
Under Pope Paul III Farnese, a major Renaissance
overhaul of the Capitoline Hill began. In 1537, the pope commissioned
Michelangelo Buonarroti to redesign the piazza and buildings for
grandeur and symmetry.
Michelangelo's contributions to Palazzo
Senatorio:
Double-ramp staircase (cordonata, built 1544–1552): A
monumental, divided external stairway replacing an older loggia and
steps. It converges dramatically on the central entrance, integrating
with the piazza's trapezoidal design.
Façade concepts emphasizing
harmony with flanking buildings (using giant-order Corinthian
pilasters).
Michelangelo died in 1564; completion followed:
Giacomo della Porta and Girolamo Rainaldi finished the current façade
(1593–1598): Ashlar base (faux travertine), giant-order pilasters with
Corinthian capitals, cornice with balustrade and statues.
Bell tower
(Torre della Patarina, 1578–1582) by Martino Longhi the Elder: Brick
structure in three orders, with bells (including 19th-century
replacements). The clock moved here in 1806. Topped originally with a
Minerva-Roma statue (now a replica).
The fountain at the
staircase base features river gods (Tiber and Nile) and Dea Roma
(goddess Roma), symbolizing Rome's power.
This project turned the
irregular medieval complex into a unified Renaissance masterpiece, with
the Palazzo Senatorio as the focal point facing St. Peter's Basilica
directionally.
Later History and Modern Use (17th–21st Centuries)
18th century: Converted partly into a residence (e.g., for Senator
Abbondio Rezzonico by Giovanni Battista Piranesi).
19th century: Seat
of the Constituent Assembly of the short-lived Roman Republic (1849).
After Italian unification and Rome becoming capital (1870), it became
the official city hall (Roma Capitale).
Interiors include historic
rooms like the Aula Giulio Cesare (council chamber with Julius Caesar
statue, flags of Rome's districts, ancient mosaic), Sala delle Bandiere
(flags and historic table), and the Mayor's Office in the Tower of
Nicholas V.
The palace continues as Rome's municipal seat
(offices of the Mayor and administration). Parts integrate with the
Capitoline Museums complex. Recent restorations (including façades) have
enhanced its appearance.
Exteriors
Facade
The facade of the building faces Piazza del
Campidoglio and has a single entrance, reachable via the double
monumental staircase, and two rows of windows. On the sides, the two
buttress towers are still visible, while on the rear façade you can see
the tower of Niccolò V (1451), which houses the mayor's office.
The double staircase designed by Michelangelo is decorated by a
sculptural group consisting of: a statue of the goddess Rome, initially
depicting Minerva sitting, placed in the center on the top of a
fountain, and on the sides two monumental statues depicting the Nile
(left) and the Tiber (right), the latter two from the temple of Serapis
on the Quirinale. On the edge there are two mixtilinear basins that with
the statue of the goddess Rome symbolize the remnant of a project wanted
by Pope Sixtus V and abandoned after his death.
On the left side,
towards via di San Pietro in Carcere going down towards the Roman Forum,
there is the secondary entrance marked by a column with an Ionic capital
surmounted by a copy of the Capitoline Wolf.
Patarina Tower
On
the top of the building is the Patarina tower, built between 1578 and
1582 on a project by Martino Longhi the elder to replace the previous
tower of medieval origin and more than 35 meters high, destroyed by
lightning around the mid-sixteenth century . The square brick structure
is divided into three superimposed orders, two of which are clearly
visible. The latter are decorated with four arches (one for each facade)
which enclose the bell cells occupied by two bronze bells dating back to
1804 and 1805. On top there is a replica of a statue depicting
Minerva-Rome and a lightning rod to protect of the structure. The clock
originally placed on the facade of the nearby basilica of Santa Maria in
Aracoeli was transferred to the main front in 1806.
The epithet
derives from the patarina, the name with which a bell from Viterbo was
renamed as war booty. The capital of Tuscia in fact gave refuge to the
Patarines, a movement that arose in the Milanese church and considered a
heretic by the Roman church. This bell was cast several times starting
from 1506 even if it is not clear what its fate was.
The bells of
the tower usually ring on the occasion of the election of the mayor and
the Christmas of Rome, even if there were extraordinary tolls, such as
those on the occasion of the abdication of Benedict XVI on February 28,
2013.
Interior
Aula Giulio Cesare
The Julius Caesar hall,
also known as the council hall, hosts the sessions of the Capitoline
Assembly and throughout its history it has kept the function of meeting
room unchanged for the various collegial bodies that have alternated in
the administration of Rome.
High on the side walls are the flags
of the 22 districts of Rome while some columns of the loggia of the
original building are visible as well as some marble coats of arms
previously placed on the facade of the building. At the two antipodes of
the room, along the smaller sides, there are a loricated statue
depicting Gaius Julius Caesar, hence the name of the room, and another,
from the 1st century, depicting an unidentified Roman navarch. On the
floor in the center of the room there is a 2nd century mosaic from a
villa in the Casal Morena area.
The sculpture from which the hall
takes its name is large (it is more than 3.1 m high) and perhaps comes
from the Forum of Caesar. It dates back to the 1st century BC. and is in
Grechetto marble. In 1936, a bronze replica was taken from the statue
which was then placed in via dei Fori Imperiali. Other bronze replicas
were placed in the same years in Rimini and Aosta.
Hall of the
Tapestry
Used for various kinds of meetings, it takes its name from
the precious Flemish tapestry dating back to the second half of the 16th
century. In addition to the latter, the room houses two paintings: I
Progenitori, by a Venetian painter of the eighteenth century, and La
forge of Vulcano (seventeenth century), by Leandro Bassano, as well as
the busts of the triumvirs of the Roman Republic: Carlo Armellini,
Giuseppe Mazzini and Aurelio Saffi.
Hall of Flags
Obtained in
the rooms of the tower of Martin V, it owes its name to the conservation
of various flags including the 14 of the civic guard wanted by Pius IX
in 1847, those of the districts, that of the 1960 Olympic Games and of
the pirofregata Rome, with which it was wrapped the coffin of King
Umberto I of Savoy, as well as the banner of Rome.
In the room
the Capitoline junta meets around a historic ebony table made in 1842
and used on various historical occasions such as the meeting of the
first municipal council of the city convened by Pius IX in 1847 and the
triumvirate composed of Armellini, Mazzini and Saffi during the Roman
Republic.
Hall of the Carroccio
The room is dedicated to the
Carroccio whose remains were sent as a warning by Frederick II of Swabia
after the victory in the battle of Cortenuova (1237) against the Lombard
League. It is accompanied by an inscription that can be translated as
follows:
«O Rome, receive the chariot as a gift from Frederick II
Caesar Augustus, an auspicious ornament for the city. This, taken by the
massacre of Milan, comes as illustrious prey to report the triumph of
Caesar. He will remain to the opprobrium of the enemy; is sent in honor
of the city of Rome. Love for her made it necessary to send him "
In the same room, mainly used for conferences, there are also
several inscriptions and marble fragments of early medieval furnishings
from the nearby basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli and from the rooms
demolished during the construction of the Vittoriano.
Mayor's
office
The mayor's study, located in the tower of Niccolò V (1451),
is divided into two adjoining rooms. The first houses the actual studio
while the second is used as a meeting room and the latter overlooks the
famous balcony visible from the outside of the tower.
The first
room is adorned with a statue and six paintings. The statue, depicting
an unidentified draped woman, seems to date back to the first century
and was found in 1953 in the area occupied by the temple of the Sun
wanted by the emperor Aureliano in the third century. The rich clothing
suggests a possible identification with either Fortune or a goddess-like
queen.
The paintings instead are: a copy by a Tuscan painter of
the Portrait of Michelangelo Buonarroti (16th century) by Iacopino del
Conte, Parable of the unfaithful factor, by Domenico Fetti, Christ and
Veronica (17th century), the work of an anonymous painter Emilian,
Battaglia (17th century), by an anonymous Italian painter, and two
Landscapes by two anonymous Italian painters.
Visiting Tips: What You Can (and Cannot) Do
The main palace
interior (offices, halls like Aula Giulio Cesare) is closed to tourists
except during rare special events, such as Cultural Heritage Weeks or
guided tours on specific holidays. Do not expect regular public access.
What you can experience:
Piazza del Campidoglio: Fully accessible
24/7 and free. Approach via Michelangelo’s elegant Cordonata ramp from
near Piazza Venezia for the best first impression. Admire the geometric
pavement design (an oval “star” pattern centering on the equestrian
statue of Marcus Aurelius — a modern replica; the original is inside the
museum).
Exterior views: Walk around the square, photograph the
façade, fountain, and river god statues. The piazza offers beautiful
perspectives, especially in the golden hour or at night when
illuminated.
The Tabularium and Forum View (the highlight for most
visitors): Accessible via ticket to the Capitoline Museums (housed in
Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo). You pass through an
underground corridor connecting the museum buildings, enter the ancient
Tabularium foundations, and reach a panoramic terrace/gallery
overlooking the Roman Forum with the Colosseum in the distance. This is
one of Rome’s best elevated views of the ancient city.
Practical
Information
Capitoline Museums Hours (for Tabularium access): Daily
9:30 AM – 7:30 PM (last entry 6:30 PM). Shorter hours on Dec 24 & 31
(until 2 PM). Closed Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25.
Tickets: Standard entry
~€15–20 (check current prices). Buy online in advance during peak season
to avoid lines. Free or reduced for certain categories (e.g., EU youth,
residents). First Sunday of the month is often free for state museums,
but confirm.
Best Time to Visit:
Morning or late afternoon for
softer light on the piazza.
Sunset for dramatic Forum views from the
Tabularium (plan museum entry ~2–3 hours before closing).
Avoid
midday in summer due to heat and crowds.
In-Depth Visiting
Strategy
Start with the Piazza (free, 20–40 minutes): Climb the
Cordonata, admire the overall design, fountain, and palace façade. Note
the symmetry and how Michelangelo turned the square to face away from
the Forum toward the Vatican direction.
Enter the Capitoline Museums
if you have time (2–4 hours): See ancient sculptures (Capitoline Wolf,
Dying Gaul, etc.), then head to the Tabularium for the Forum overlook.
The underground tunnel and ancient structures add historical depth.
Combine with nearby sites:
Roman Forum/Palatine (walk down from the
hill).
Vittoriano (Altar of the Fatherland) for rooftop views.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli church (adjacent).
Photography Tips:
Wide-angle lens for the piazza. Golden hour or blue hour for the best
light on the palace. The Forum view is photogenic any time but magical
at sunset.
Additional Tips
Dress Code: Modest attire if
entering museums or churches nearby; the piazza is casual.
Accessibility: The piazza has some slopes; elevators exist in the
museums, but check for Tabularium access.
Crowds: The square can get
busy but is more peaceful than major sites like the Colosseum. Mornings
are quieter.
Guided Options: Audio guides or tours for the museums
enhance the Tabularium experience. Occasional free guided tours of the
Palazzo Senatorio occur during special openings — check the official
Musei Capitolini website or Turismo Roma.
Weather: The hill is
exposed; bring water/sunscreen in summer, layers in winter.