Palazzo Madama, beside Piazza Navona in Rome, is a Renaissance palace and the seat of Italy’s Senate. Built over the remains of Nero’s baths, it was completed for the Medici family in 1505 and later housed cardinals, popes and other prominent residents. Its rooms include the Sala Maccari, Sala Italia and Sala del Risorgimento. The palace’s changing roles, from a Medici residence to the seat of papal government and then the Italian Senate, give a visit a clear thread through Rome’s political history.
A Medici palace beside Piazza Navona
Palazzo Madama stands beside Piazza Navona, on ground occupied in antiquity by the baths of Nero. In the Middle Ages, monks from the Abbey of Farfa held the land before it passed to France. Construction of the palace began at the end of the 15th century, and the building was completed in 1505 for the Medici family.
Two Medici cardinals who lived here, Giovanni and Giulio, later became popes Leo X and Clement VII. Catherine de’ Medici, Clement VII’s niece, also lived in the palace before her 1533 marriage to Henry, son of Francis I of France. Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte, a patron of Caravaggio, was another resident; he remained there until his death in 1627.
How the palace got its name
The name Palazzo Madama refers to Margherita of Austria, the daughter of Emperor Charles V. She married Alessandro de’ Medici and, after his death, Ottavio Farnese. Through these family ties, part of the Florentine Medici art collection passed to the Farnese family.
After the Medici line ended in 1743, the palace went to the House of Lorraine. Pope Benedict XIV later took it over and made it the seat of papal government. In 1849, Pope Pius IX transferred the Ministries of Finance and Public Debt, as well as the Papal Post Offices, to the building.
From government offices to the Senate
Following the conquest of Rome by the newly formed Kingdom of Italy in 1871, Palazzo Madama became the seat of the Senate of the Kingdom. It now houses the Senate of the Italian Republic. That continued political role is central to the building’s identity: the palace is a historic residence and government seat, not simply a monument to its earlier owners.
The rooms identified as points of interest include the Sala Maccari, Sala Italia, Sala del Risorgimento, Sala dello Struzzo and Sala Cavour. Their names give you a focused list to look for when planning a visit. As the building is in use by the Senate, check whether interior access is available before setting out; a guided tour is one option for learning more about its history.
Perguntas frequentes
What is Palazzo Madama in Rome?
It is a Renaissance palace beside Piazza Navona and the current seat of the Senate of the Italian Republic.
Which rooms can you see at Palazzo Madama?
Rooms of interest include the Sala Maccari, Sala Italia, Sala del Risorgimento, Sala dello Struzzo and Sala Cavour.
Why is it called Palazzo Madama?
The name refers to Margherita of Austria, daughter of Emperor Charles V, who lived in the palace through her marriage to Alessandro de’ Medici.
Can you visit the interior of Palazzo Madama?
The palace houses the Italian Senate. Check access arrangements before planning an interior visit; a guided tour is suggested for more historical context.
