Palazzo dell'Emiciclo, Neoclassical palace in L'Aquila, Italy
Palazzo dell'Emiciclo is a neoclassical building in L'Aquila featuring a distinctive semicircular Ionic colonnade as its main element. The upper level displays Corinthian columns and rests on a large terrace that extends across the structure.
The building was constructed in 1888 on the foundations of a 17th-century church, marking a shift from religious to administrative use. It then became the seat of Abruzzo's Regional Council and has served this role in the region's political life ever since.
The colonnade holds sixteen niches displaying busts of important regional figures from Abruzzo. The facade shows carved reliefs depicting Italy and History, framed by guardian eagles on either side.
The restored interior contains an underground conference hall and a regional library, both protected by modern safety systems. Visitors should know that the building has been equipped with special earthquake protection technology throughout.
After the 2009 earthquake, engineers installed 61 seismic isolators beneath the building to protect the structure. This made it a pioneering example of modern earthquake protection technology in Italian public buildings.
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