Palazzo Wedekind

Palazzo Wedekind is a neoclassical building at Piazza Colonna featuring a striking facade supported by 16 Ionic columns sourced from archaeological digs in Veio. These columns were reassembled to create the grand portico that now dominates the entrance of the palazzo.

Construction took place in 1838 under Pope Gregory XVI's direction, replacing the former Temple of Marcus Aurelius on this site. The columns came largely from the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura before a fire destroyed it in 1823.

The building houses offices for INPS, Italy's social security agency, and remains a focal point of the square's architecture. Its grand facade with towering columns shapes how Romans and visitors experience this central piazza.

The building stands at Piazza Colonna 366 in central Rome and is easily accessible on foot. It functions as office space for INPS and is not open for interior visits, but the facade and portico are clearly visible from the street.

The columns were rescued from the Basilica of San Paolo before the catastrophic 1823 fire, making them remnants of ancient architecture saved from destruction. This salvage story shapes the entire facade and connects the building to an earlier religious site.

Location: Rome

Architects: Giuseppe Valadier

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.90086,12.47948

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:03