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FAO has joined the Open House Roma initiative, opening its doors to the public May 2019 on 11 and 12 May alongside 200 other sites, to celebrate the architecture and design of . ©FAO Pier Paolo Cito Pier Paolo ©FAO

In collaboration with: About the FAO building complex

FAO was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec, Canada. In 1949, the FAO Conference accepted the Italian Government’s offer to establish FAO’s permanent headquarters in Rome, relocating them from their temporary site in Washington. The move took place two years later, in 1951, with FAO occupying the building complex which was originally intended to host the then Ministry of Italian Africa. Designed in 1938 by leading architects Vittorio Cafiero and Mario Ridolfi, the construction works started the same year, but stopped during World War II. It took over a decade to complete the construction, while two additional buildings were later added in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Today, the FAO headquarters occupy more than 100,000 square meters over an area of four hectares.

Inside FAO: Rooms and the art collection

Roman bas-relief

Donated by the President of the Italian Republic and by the City of Rome in 2011, to mark the 60th Anniversary of FAO’s transfer to Rome. ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier

“Autumn”

The painting (1920) by Swiss artist Giovanni Giacometti depicts two men picking apples and a woman looking on. The masterful use of light and vibrant colours in Giacometti’s work made him a key innovator among early 20th century Swiss painters. ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier “Noi dell’Africa immensa nello spazio continuo”

Mozambican artist Bertina Lopes donated this painting (1992) to the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano. The painting was displayed during the 1996 World Food Summit, held at FAO. The president donated the painting to the Organization as a sign of gratitude for the help and assistance it provided to his country. ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier

Plenary Hall

The Plenary Hall was designed to hold high-level meetings, summits and ceremonies. The Hall hosts more than 1,200 seats. A 500 square meters ceramic bas-relief on the ceiling, offering an allegoric representation of the sky and oceans, was decorated by renowned Italian sculptor, painter and engraver Mirko Basaldella. ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano ©FAO/Giulio

Ethiopia Room

It’s one of the most colourful rooms – a sea of orange, green, red and blue - a reflection of the country’s culture and flag. Each element – structure, material, colour, the artwork adorning the main wall – was designed to emanate warmth and encourage participation. About the artwork. Picture a white globe, circled by colorful lines adorned by fragments depicting the DNA double helix and the origin of human species, and Ethiopian culture, landscape and flora, including an iris - a symbol of faith, courage, wisdom, protection, hope and goodwill. The work of Italian artist Adriano Nardi. ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier China lounge

Green-yellow ceramic lions guard the entrance. Inside, you can find a display of Chinese ceramics, and a prominent, golden copper map showing a rural landscape of rice and wheat fields. Inaugurated in 1985 to commemorate FAO’s 40th anniversary, the room is used by the Director-General to receive ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier distinguished guests. ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito Paolo ©FAO/Pier

Sheikh Zayed Centre “The Creation”

An art installation by Sadica Keskas, This painting was donated by Cuban painter Pedro Pablo featuring hanging orange and green Oliva on the occasion of the FAO TeleFood Concert held stained glass palm trees welcomes simultaneously in Rome and Havana on 26 October 1997. The visitors to the Centre. Considered sacred painting represents the concept of the “tree of life”: the birth of in the holy texts, palm trees represent the human being and love are the bases for the creation. the connection between the various religions, a source of life, and a metaphor for communication, information and knowledge. Built as an international knowledge centre, the Sheikh Zayed Centre was funded by the United Arab Emirates in 2012. With its 170 seats and seven language channels, the Centre is generally used for press conferences, screenings, publication launches and briefings, as well as TV and Radio broadcasts. ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano ©FAO/Giulio

Terrace

A feast for the eyes: from sweeping views of most of Rome’s major attractions – the ©FAO (an ancient chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue), The Iraq Room the ruins of the Palatino Hills, the (the second largest Roman Check out the lions at the entrance. They come a long way. public baths), all amidst a field of green, Donated by the Iraqi Embassy and the work of artist Michele dominated by Rome’s typical everlasting Martinelli, they are copies of the ancient lions that adorned green pines – to a glimpse of Piazza the Ishtar Gate of the ancient Babylon city whose ruins lie Venezia and the Basilica of San Pietro and, in modern-day Iraq. The lions were reconstructed at Berlin’s on a sunny day, the outlines of Rome’s hills. Pergamon Museum from excavated materials in Iraq. The On the left side corner you will also see a room has a versatile design, which allows for it to be used for bronze sculpture (“Bird”) by Roberto Ruta. different activities. ©FAO About FAO

FAO is an intergovernmental organization which includes 194 member countries, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. It is the first agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of food and agriculture. Reaching a world free of hunger and poverty has been at the heart of our work ever since. We operate in 130 countries worldwide, with a focus on rural areas—home to almost 80 percent of the world’s poor and hungry. We support countries to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and work

towards reaching Zero Hunger by 2030. ©FAO

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs

The 2030 Agenda is a global sustainable vision for the long-term peace, prosperity and health of people worldwide.Food and agriculture lie at the core of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from ending poverty and hunger to addressing the threats posed by climate change and sustaining our natural resources. SDG2 – End hunger, achieve food security and

improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture – is at the heart of our ©FAO work and is key to achieving the entire set of SDGs by 2030.

José Graziano da Silva has worked on issues of food security, rural development and agriculture for over 30 years. Since assuming his mandate as FAO Director-General in 2012, he has spearheaded major transformational changes within the Organization. These reforms have entailed refocusing FAO’s work, reinforcing its institutional capacities, strengthening partnerships with civil society, the private sector and cademia, and boosting FAO’s support for South-South Cooperation. China Lounge INSIDE FAO A truly global forum This book showcases the archeology, history and works of art at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, through spectacular photographs and informative texts, and reveals the places where world leaders and worldwide experts meet to fight world hunger.

The book is available in Italian and forthcoming in English from the FAO Shop. Discover FAO

The Organization also offers an Artworks Collection Itinerary, which showcases FAO’s unique art collection donated by Member Countries, as well as Roman archaeological finds, highlighting the history of FAO’s location, which was once at the heart of ancient Rome.

FAO offers guided tours for groups of 15—30 people every day from Monday to Friday, at 10 a.m. or 3 p.m.

Contact [email protected]

Website www.fao.org/about/visit-us/en/

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome, www.fao.org ©FAO, 2019