Palazzo dei Congressi

One of the few planned developments in the city of Rome’s history, the EUR business district was constructed on occasion of the 1942 Universial Exposition, and although the exhibition was cancelled, the name remained: Esposizione Universale di Roma (Roman Universal Exhibition), usually known simply as EUR. There are a couple of museums here, but this district’s appeal lies especially in its outstanding rationalist architecture. The style is gorgeously expressed in a series of distinctive buildings, including the impressive Palazzo dei Ricevimenti e dei Congressi. The Palace of Congress at the EUR is one of the most interesting projects of the EUR area in Rome, designed to host the Universal Exhibition of Rome of 1942. The start of World War II prevented the 1942 Universal Exposition from taking place and interfered with the completion of many of the structures and buildings planned. The project of the Palazzo dei Congressi was completed only in the year 1954. The building’s architect Adalberto Libera aimed at giving the structure a noble appearance, combining modern lines with a general classical taste. The attention for detail, its sharp architectural outlines and its clean shapes make the Palace of Congress at the EUR a brilliant example of rationalist architecture and it shows Adalberto Libera’s ability to design ambiguously in a metaphysical language that sits halfway between neoclassicism and modernism. The Palazzo dei Ricevimenti e dei Congressi is regarded as an innovative monument taking its place in history. The spaces of the Palazzo are enriched by works of art created by the most prominent Italian artists of the 20th century. On the back wall of the Kennedy Hall, you can see a fresco painted by Achille Funi in 1953, featuring a series of scenes on the history of Rome. In the Art Hall you can see a polychrome panel produced by Futurist artist Gino Severini in 1953. The Palace of Congress at the EUR hosted the fencing part of the modern pentathlon competitions for the 1960 Summer Olympics. The EUR area is still a focus for development, with the New Convention Center, nicknamed Cloud for his futuristic shapes, being built here.

Tags: best places to visit in rome, top attractions in rome