In 2010, Fondazione Roma was able, thanks to careful and prudent financial management, to ensure continuity to institutional activities and increase its assets by purchasing, from Unicredit Real Estate, the historic Palazzo Antonio Cipolla.

Its origins date back to 1862, when the Cassa di Risparmio di Roma, under the leadership of Prince Camillo Aldobrandini, purchased Palazzo Jacovacci from the administration of the San Giacomo Hospital. This palace, an ancient residence belonging to the Jacovacci de’ Facceschi brothers, had been donated to the hospital in 1600. Palazzo Antonio Cipolla was later built on the same site, which in 1874 became the headquarters of the Cassa di Risparmio di Roma, transferred from the sixteenth-century Palazzo Borghese.

In 2002 the Cassa di Risparmio merged into Capitalia, which in 2007 was incorporated into Unicredit, as a result of which Unicredit Real Estate became the owner of the building until the recent purchase by the Foundation.

The demolition of Palazzo Jacovacci began in 1868. The excavation work led to the discovery, during the excavation of the foundations, of some fragments of the Roman arch of Claudius.

The Palace was solemnly inaugurated on November 29, 1874, under the presidency of Prince Carlo Barberini, Captain Commander of His Holiness’s Noble Guard, and was named after its architect, Antonio Cipolla. David Silvagni wrote: “The magnificent palace with the design of the excellent architect Cipolla is undoubtedly the best among the new buildings of Rome” (La Corte e la Società Romana nei secoli XVIII e XIX).

It can reasonably be affirmed that Palazzo Antonio Cipolla, built between 1869 and 1874, is at the same time the last significant architectural work of Pius IX’s Rome and the first of Rome as the Capital.

Antonio Cipolla won the competition for the construction of the Palace in 1864, with a project that combined two styles and two eras, pure Florentine Quattrocento and a generic Roman Cinquecento. As Marcello Piacentini wrote, “Cipolla was the first to attempt to create an Italian style by drawing inspiration, in a fully academic climate, from schemes of the past”.

The Architect had a leading role in the urban renewal of Rome as Capital. He was appointed vice president of the Commission tasked with studying the new building arrangement of the city, restored the Palazzo del Quirinale, which had by then become the residence of the sovereigns of Italy, where he built the stables.

The Sala del Consiglio (Council Hall) and the Sala dei Marmi (Marble Hall) testify to the great architectural interest of the Palace’s interiors. The decorations were executed by sculptor Oreste Garofoli, author of the high relief in the lunette of the central window of the balcony, and by painters Natali, Basilli and Bruschi. Bruschi also painted the allegorical canvas at the center of the ceiling of the Sala del Consiglio, depicting Peace with Abundance and Savings at its sides.

In 1933, under the presidency of Marquis Carlo Giulio Clavarino, the central public hall was expanded and new office spaces were created, on the ground floor and first floor. A new staircase replaced that of architect Cipolla and new entrances were created on the Corso and on Via di Montecatini.

Further work was carried out by architect Clemente Busiri Vici in 1948, under the presidency of Marquis Giuseppe Dalla Chiesa: direct access from the Corso to the central hall was opened and the vehicular atrium on Via di Montecatini was modified, giving a more unified character to the entire complex.

From 1953 to 1955 the same Busiri Vici completed the work and reclaimed all the basements: the floor level was lowered, the heating and ventilation system of the underground was renovated and a large room for safety deposit boxes was created, the so-called caveau.