Palazzo Madama (Senato della Repubblica)

The monks of the imperial abbey of Farfa ceded the ground in 1478 to France, for a hostel for French pilgrims. Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, later Leo X, bought it in 1505 and had it restored to a design by Giuliano da Sangallo. It passed to Giulio de' Medici, later Clement VII, then in 1534 to Alessandro de' Medici, and on his death in 1537 in usufruct to his widow Margherita d'Austria, natural daughter of Charles V and called la Madama, from whom the palace takes its name. Paolo Marucelli finished the Baroque facade in 1642. The palace went to the Lorraine in 1737 and was bought in 1755 by Benedict XIV for the Governatorato, when a second courtyard was opened where the Senate chamber now sits; under Pius IX it housed the Ministry of Finance.