PALAZZO SALVIATI AND THE CENTRE FOR DEFENCE HIGHER STUDIES

Palazzo Salviati is a Renaissance building designed by Giulio Penni, also known as Giulio Romano. Construction was begun in 1520 on the order of Filippo Adimari, a distinguished and cultured prelate of Florentine origin. The palace faces the river and Via della Lungara, once considered one of the most beautiful views in and was chosen by Bramante as the site for the most important papal palaces. Starting from , in addition to the botanical gardens, Via della Lungara is lined by magnificent buildings housing prestigious cultural institutions. In particular, the with its beautiful frescoes and the Loggia painted by Raphael and his pupils and the Corsini Palace which houses the Lincei Academy and the Corsini Art Gallery including the apartment where Queen Christine of Sweden lived until her death. Filippo Adimari began living in the building before it was actually completed. After his death, in 1536, the building changed hands several times before being taken over by Cardinal Giovanni Salviati and his brother Bernardo. Bernardo, also a cardinal, commissioned Giovanni Lippi, also known as Nanni di Baccio Bigio, for the completion of the building. The work was finished in 1568. In 1634, in another period of glory, the palace was again refurbished. New Baroque decorations were added together with the creation of a magnificent garden containing important architectural details in the grand entrances, the nymphaeum, the stairway and the fountains. The palace began to be used for military purposes in 1849, when it was occupied for a year by French troops called to defend the Papal State against the insurgents of the Roman Republic. Later it was used by the Papal Dragoons as their barracks. In 1870 it became property of the Italian State. Between 1883 and 1943 it was used as a campus for the Military College of Rome, whose memory is today commemorated with twentieth-century style memorial and plaques. The palace, now a national monument, took its present shape in 1933 with the construction of a wing separating the courtyard from the park. This was once a part of the botanical gardens of Rome in which certain precious species of exotic plants, such as a rare type of pepper tree, have been conserved. The area also includes the original monumental entrance to the botanical gardens built in 1837, characterized by sphinxes mounted on the inscribed gate pillars. The interior of the palace has many features of particular interest. The grand staircase, attributed to Nanni di Baccio Bigio, leads from the atrium to the piano nobile. The three rooms of the library feature ceiling frescoes, painted in 1883 by the Perugian Annibale Brugnoli, portraying battles of the Risorgimento, other military scenes, flowers and plants motifs. The chapel, situated on the piano nobile, is adorned with notable religious frescoes, attributed to Santi di Tito, dating back to the sixteenth century; these also include the coat- of-arms of Salviati family quartered with the Medicean emblem. In the gardens there are some interesting remains such as the unfinished head of the original Baroque water stairs, a headless marble statue representing Dionysus, situated along the edge of the property in a rustic cave and the 17th century monumental southern entrance to the garden. A little rustic theatre of particular interest is situated in a garden behind the Monument to Victory, perhaps the Arcadians once gathered here. Since 1971 Palazzo Salviati has been the home of the Centre for Defence Higher Studies, a joint - services organization operating at national and international level, in close connection with universities, similar institutions and experts from various sectors, of politics, culture, sciences, etc. Its principal aim is to develop and spread military culture and security and defence issues. The Centre carries out its activities through the Defence Higher Studies Institute, the Joint Service Staff Institute and the Military Centre for Strategic Studies. These three institutions work in close coordination and are respectively responsible for top-management training, high level joint-services staff training and strategic research activities. The Defence Higher Studies Institute course is attended by high ranking officers of the Italian Armed forces and the Financial Guard, high ranking foreign officers, senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and senior professionals from different sectors of civil society. The training programme includes subjects of operational and strategic interest, such as topical issues, advanced technological research, communications, crisis management operations and the Mediterranean dialogue. The Joint Service Staff Institute course is attended by Italian and foreign military officers in the rank of lieutenant colonel, graduated from their military academies, and civilian graduated from different universities. At the end of the course, they obtain a master degree in international strategic defence studies. The specific areas of studies include, among others, politics, international relations, strategic studies, history, doctrines and strategy, management tools, employment of military forces and communication skills. Both institutes organise study tours as useful means for encouraging cultural understanding and enhancing professionalism, cultural knowledge, team spirit and creative skills. The Joint Service Staff Institute students conclude their training with a course designed for legal advisors in the Armed Forces, as provided by the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions. The participation of a large number of civil officials and foreign officers gives a significant contribution to the integration between military community and civil society and fosters a fruitful exchange of professional experiences, dialogue, solidarity, cohesion and a common understanding of fundamental values such as peace and freedom. The Military Centre for Strategic Studies is responsible for joint-services research in fields such as international relations, sociology and high-technology. Its most significant works are published. It provides a link with universities and research institutes to promote and spread military culture and security and defence issues in the academic community. Moreover, wishing to strengthen its relationship with other research centres and promote ’s international role, it develops its research activity in co-operation with foreign research institutes and eminent researchers. Being in a favourable position to observe the international scene, it faces the challenge of constantly updating information on comprehensive subjects, organising and promoting national and international seminars, conferences, lessons and brain storming dealing with issues of strategic interest. Through these activities the Centre for Defence Higher Studies contributes to provide the appropriate support to the top-level authorities and works to educate military and civilian scholars, both Italian and foreign, for a future of peace, progress and stability.