This
piazza was designed to provide access to the Palazzo Montecitorio
from which it derives its name. The best way to enter this piazza
is from the south. This is where you can get the best view of the
obelisk and the central section of the palazzo’s façade.
The obelisk was originally constructed for Pharaoh Psammeticus
II. It was set up in Heliopolis in the sixth century B.C. Emperor
Augustus had it shipped to Italy in the tenth century B.C. to celebrate
his victory over Cleopatra. It was set up in the Campus Martius.
When he brought it to Rome it created a great stir that it is said
that the ship, which transported the obelisk, was also kept on public
display. It
was set up as a gnomon (shadow caster) for an enormous sundial he
had built a few hundred metres north of the present location of
the obelisk. Legend says that it fell during a fire and was buried
there until it was rediscovered in 1748 under a building in Piazza
Parlemento. In 1792 it was reconstructed using granite taken from
the column of Antonius. Today it stands almost 22 metres high or
should one say 29 metres including the base and the globe surmounting
it.
Bernini designed Palazzo Montecitorio in 1655 at the request of
Nicolo Ludovisi who wanted to build a grand palace for his family.
However work stopped due to uncertain finances of the family. In
1664 when Ludovisi died it was still incomplete. Carlo
Fontana took on the project of completing the palazzo by 1697at
the request of Pope Innocent XII. Fontana followed the original
designs of Bernini quite closely and finished constructing the palazzo
in 1697. The only part he considerably altered was the central section
of the façade. He maintained Bernini’s overall conception
including the two receding wings, which helped to make the façade
seem less monolithic and more stimulating to the eye. The building
was then used for papal matters and was known as Curia Innocentiana.
In 1870 it became the home of the new Italian Parliament.
Today Piazza Montecitorio is mainly known as the site of the House
of Parliament and is a busy piazza.
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