A President’s Secret Home

The Trevi fountain may be one of the most visited attractions in Rome, but not many people are aware of the rich history of the buildings that surround it. One of them is Palazzo Castellani, built in the 18th century by goldsmith and collector Paolo Castellani. This beautiful building, which overlooks the fountain and offers sweeping 360-degree views over the city’s roofs, is mostly known for having been the home of Italy’s president Sandro Pertini and his wife Carla Voltolina. Pertini, who became president in 1978 at the age of 82, was famously unconventional, and chose to not move into the official presidential residence at the Quirinale and instead remain in the modest, rented apartment he shared with his wife.

Pertini died in the apartment on 24 February 1990, and Voltolina continued to live there until her death in 2005. For two decades afterwards, the house remained closed, preserving a remarkably personal glimpse into the lives of the couple. In 2025, the apartment reopened to the public, and visitors can now admire the couple’s furnishings, books, pho- tographs, and personal belongings, including his collection of pipes. The visit also leads to one of the apartment’s most evocative features: the Terrazzo del Tricolore, a private terrace with extraordinary views across Rome. During Pertini’s presidency, his attendant would raise the Italian flag on this terrace each evening, to mark that the president had returned home, lowering it again when he left in the morning.

In addition to its historical importance, the palazzo is also known as one of the most ro- mantic spots in Rome, where young couples from Italy and around go to exchange their engagement vows.

Piazza Fontana di Trevi, 86/9. Floor 4.
Tel 0656569001. casapertinivoltolina.it