The palace, now the seat of the Metropolitan City of Rome, was built in 1583-85 by Cardinal Bonelli on the site of the Trajan Forum, to a design by Frà Domenico Paganelli of Florence. In the mid-seventeenth century it became the property of Cardinal Imperiali, who had it rebuilt and enlarged to a design by Francesco Peparelli. In 1796 it was bought by the banker Vincenzo Valentini, who had the neoclassical façade towards the Trajan Forum built around 1830.

In 1873 the palace was purchased by the Italian State as the seat of the Province of Rome. The building has a trapezoidal plan with an entrance hall and a central courtyard. The façade has a majestic portal with two Ionic columns surmounted by a balcony; on the sides, architraved windows with grilles. On the first floor windows with triangular gables, on the second floor windows with simple frames. A cornice supported by corbels alternating with small windows crowns all sides of the building, which has ashlar-worked cantonal corners. The courtyard and staircase contain a number of sculptures from the classical period, while on the second floor there is a large coat of arms of Cardinal Bonelli in polychrome majolica tiles from the end of the 16th century.

On 1 January 2015, the Province of Rome became the Metropolitan City of Rome. The territory comprises 121 municipalities, including Rome.

Last checked: 2017-06-27 10:12