Palazzo dei Congressi, Rome

In the heart of the EUR district you will find the Palazzo dei Congressi, which is worth a visit because there is always something interesting going on there. The palace was designed by Adalberto Libera and is one of his rare buildings that follow the Italian Rationalism School of Architecture. It is an elegant blend of classical and modern architecture, intended to be part of the 1942 World’s Fair. Construction began in 1938 but was interrupted during the World War II and was finished in 1954.

The building is vast; it is the biggest conference complex in Italy, with an enormous Reception Hall of 1444 square meters – big enough to fit the Pantheon inside it! This hall is used for exhibitions, trade fairs and concerts. There are also conference rooms and an amphitheater that can seat up to 1150 people. The magnificent Banquet Room with its round tables can seat 850 diners.

All the rooms are elegantly decorated with marble colonnades and many paintings by 20th century Italian artists. In the Kennedy Hall you can admire a wonderful fresco, executed in 1953 by Achille Funi, depicting scenes of the origins of Rome. In the palazzo’s cafe you will find two mosaics by Angelo Canevari. The main conference room was recently refurbished and has a lovely terrace with bright flowers in hanging baskets. The terrace is used in the summer as an open-air theater.