Arts & Culture, Historical Sites
Thriving in central Italy from the 8th to the 3rd century BCE, the Etruscan civilization was renowned for its refined culture, abundant mineral resources, and its status as a major trading power in the Mediterranean. However, much of its traditions and history were either erased or absorbed into that of its conqueror, Rome. Nevertheless, surviving Etruscan tombs, their contents and wall paintings, as well as the Roman adoption of some Etruscan clothing, religious practices, and architectural features, provide compelling evidence of the great prosperity and significant contribution to Mediterranean culture achieved by Italy's first major civilization.
Located in Rome, the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia houses the most significant and valuable collection of Etruscan objects in Italy. Found in archaeological sites of Southern Etruria, located between the river Tiber and the Tyrrhenian Sea, these archeological discoveries are displayed in the museum along with highly sophisticated Greek artworks imported to Etruria between the 8th and 4th century BCE. Among the numerous finds of Etruscan culture, the museum boasts the Sarcophagus of the Spouses from Cerveteri and many other priceless relics datable between the 6th and 4th century BCE. Founded in 1889, ETRU museum is now part of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities. Its mission is to enhance the value of the Etruscan cultural heritage by organizing exhibitions and conferences and promoting scientific research.
Initially designated as a
private residence, in the course of history Palazzo Chigi has changed its
purpose several times according to its different owners’ needs. For the first few centuries, it was mainly home to important families of
Papal Rome. Towards the end of the 18th century, it was mostly used as the
Spanish embassy’s headquarters in Rome. In 1878 it was the official
residence of the Ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, becoming headquarters
of the Minister of Colonial Affairs during World War One in 1916. After its
final renovation promoted by the Italian State in 1922, it has housed the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for almost 40 years. Since 1961 it is the official seat of the Italian Prime Minister and of the Council of Ministers.
Palazzo
Chigi, with its central and prestigious location in the heart of classical
Rome, overlooks via del Corso and Piazza Colonna, taking its name from the
two-thousand-year-old column of Marcus Aurelius which stands right in its
centre. The clean design of the five-story structure typical of
the Renaissance period features a grand staircase and an internal courtyard embellished by Giacomo della Porta’s fountain. The heritage of the Chigi
family is still visible in the opulence of the applied, decorative, and fine
arts collections displayed in the rooms of the palace. The precious pieces of
furniture, paintings, and sculptures are a symbol of the political influence of
the rich Chigi family at the time they owned the palace. The building is nowadays opened to visits, but only certain rooms and sections
of it are actually accessible to the public.