paulinette
The Senate building
The Palazzo Madama is the Senate building of the Italian Republic and is behind Pantheon Square. Construction began in the time of Pope Sixtus IV, when medieval Rome was becoming a more modern city. The palace grounds had belonged to Benedictine monks for centuries and they donated the land to the French government. It was then bequeathed it to a bishop who constructed the palace building. This was completed in 1505 by Cardinal John de Medici, the future Pope Leo X. It was the seat of the Medicis family, where the future Queen of France (Catherine de Medicis) passed some time. The name of "Madama" is for Margaret of Parma, daughter of Charles V, who lived here.
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