Palazzo FAO, United Nations headquarters in San Saba district, Rome, Italy.
Palazzo FAO is a large modern office building for the United Nations in Rome, extending along Viale Aventino and Viale delle Terme di Caracalla in a historical district. The complex sits near the ancient Baths of Caracalla and Circus Maximus, combining office spaces with conference halls and administrative facilities for international operations.
The building was designed in the 1930s to serve as a ministry office for Italian Africa before it was completed in 1952 as headquarters for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This transformation made it one of Rome's few structures with such a direct institutional link to the postwar period.
The building displays modernist design from the 1930s era, with clean lines and functional forms that stand apart from Rome's classical and baroque structures around it. Visitors notice how this architectural language differs from the ornamental styles found in the ancient monuments nearby.
The building is generally not open to the public since it houses a secure international agency with strict access controls. Visitors can appreciate the exterior architectural design from the surrounding streets without entering the grounds.
The Italian government leases the building to the United Nations for a symbolic rate of exactly one dollar per year. This unusual arrangement showcases Italy's commitment to international institutions and remains a rare example of generosity in diplomatic dealings.
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