Ex Palazzo Pubblico della Città Giardino Aniene

Let's not confuse the (beautiful) building with the institution it houses. This is the symbol of Città Giardino Aniene and, along with the church, a key element of the heart of this residential complex built by Giovannoni in the 1920s. Its medieval appearance is even more pronounced in the adjacent building (the so-called "Cinema-Theatre"), and was originally intended to house municipal services (the municipal police station, as well as shops and an elementary school). The façade is concave, as if to complete the ideal embrace provided by the square, and its main feature is the union of the portico and the tower. Unfortunately, the addition of a third floor in the 1960s completely altered the original design, decreasing the height of the tower and making the overall appearance less harmonious. A peculiarity is that on the façade, on the arches of the portico, and on the frames of some windows, you can see stucco panels depicting animals and human faces (one of these faces is actually a self-portrait of the designer). From the beginning, it was planned to house the offices of the Municipal Delegation on the first floor and the elementary school on the second, but it soon had to be moved due to lack of space. After various phases (and a major restoration), the city hall returned to this location about fifteen years ago, and the building has once again become an active hub for neighborhood activities. The square has been cleared of the parking lot that had besieged it, but fortunately the Madonnina (which the Minisindaco wanted to move) has remained in place. It's a shame about that third floor; it remains a beautiful building. Need some info? Leave a like and check out my other reviews on Rome and beyond.

On the ground floor,