Palazzo del Quirinale (Quirinal Palace), Rome

Sitting atop the highest of ancient Rome's renowned seven hills, the Quirinale, stands the magnificent Palazzo Quirinale, a colossal 16th-century structure that was once the residence of the popes until 1870 and now serves as Italy's presidential palace. This hill holds historical significance as the Romans constructed temples dedicated to various deities, including Flora and Quirinus, after whom the hill was named.

In the 1500s, due to the Vatican's reputation for being an unhealthy area plagued by malaria, Pope Gregory XIII chose the Quirinale as a papal summer residence. Construction of the palace began in 1573, with the involvement of numerous renowned architects. Spanning an impressive area of 110,500 square meters, it stands as the 6th largest palace in the world in terms of size.

Visitors can explore the interior of the palace through two guided tours. The first tour, lasting 80 minutes, starts with a glimpse of a fragment from Melozzo da Forlì's 15th-century fresco of Christ, originally painted for the apse of Santi Apostoli. It then proceeds to showcase the sumptuous rooms of the piano nobile, including the illustrious Hall of Mirrors and the Hall of Tapestries. The second tour, lasting 140 minutes, continues to the palace's porcelain collection, a museum of carriages, and the exquisite gardens.

The focal point of the piazza outside the palace is the monumental statue of the Dioscuri, also known as Castor and Pollux. These 5-meter-tall Roman replicas of classical Greek statues were brought to this location by Pope Sixtus V in the early 16th century. The piazza is enclosed by buildings on three sides, while the fourth side offers a splendid open view of the city, allowing visitors to take in the majestic panorama.