Quirinale Palace (Palazzo del Quirinale)

Pope Gregory XIII built the Quirinale Palace in the late 1500s as a summer residence. It was home to dozens of popes for over three centuries before becoming the first residence of the royal House of Savoy, and finally the residence of Italy’s president of the republic in 1947. Its monumental staircase, grand Salone dei Corazzieri, and Cappella Paolina even caught the eye of Napoleon, who was defeated before he could make the palace his own.

Palace visits are only by guided tour on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; booking in advance is imperative, as spaces are limited. To view the Renaissance palace from the outside, join a walking, e-bike, or Vespa tour that includes Rome’s highlights such as the Quirinale Palace, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican. For a unique experience, opt for an evening tour of Rome to see the palace beautifully lit.

• Palace visits require a security check; large bags and backpacks, plastic and glass bottles, cans, umbrellas, and other pointed objects are prohibited.

• No photos or videos are allowed.

• The palace is accessible to wheelchair users, though the garden has gravel paths that may be difficult to maneuver.

The Quirinale Palace is located on Via del Quirinale at Piazza del Quirinale. Take metro line A to Repubblica–Teatro Opera station or metro line B to Cavour station.

The palace is closed on Monday and Thursday. Plan to visit on a Sunday, when you can also see the Changing of the Guard.

The palace’s current site was once home to Roman temples and, later, baths built by Constantine. The hill was known as the Salita di Montecavallo (Horse Hill) for centuries, named for ancient statues that portrayed Castor and Pollux in the act of taming their horses that once sat here.