The building, which is the institutional headquarters of the Italian Air Force, will be one of seven hundred national properties and one of five in the Capital, extraordinarily open to the public on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March. On Saturday 23rd March, entry will be reserved for FAI members with the possibility of joining on-site; on Sunday 24th March, it will be open to the public with priority access for FAI members and the possibility of joining on-site. Together with the Quirinale Cuirassiers Barracks, Palazzo Antonelli, Palazzo Spada, and the Roman Aquarium, it will constitute one of the five stages planned in the city of Rome. The complete list of openings, made possible by 7,000 FAI volunteers, was presented this morning at Palazzo Spada in Rome, the seat of the Council of State, with a conference attended by numerous authorities from the institutional, cultural, and business worlds, and can be consulted on the website.
www.giornatafai.it. The opening of the historic halls of Palazzo AM, the work of architect Roberto Marino commissioned by the then minister Italo Balbo, falls in the year of the 90th Anniversary of the establishment of the Air Force, which took place precisely on 28 March 1923, when it was detached from the Army and made independent. The initiative aims to highlight the Air Force’s commitment to pursuing – together with private citizens, companies, and other attentive institutions – one of the guiding principles of the FAI’s work for over 35 years and one of the fundamental articles of the Italian Constitution, namely education in the knowledge and protection of the nation’s historical and artistic heritage.
A commitment that is tied to the same genetic code as the Air Force, founded on a shared awareness of a common history of values, traditions, sacrifice, and activity in the service of the community. A past that has managed to transcend personal stories and the protagonism of men and flying squadrons, of which the numerous decorations decorating the interior of the Palace bear witness, while maintaining the spirit of service and a strong sense of belonging. The activities of recovering, conserving, and, as in this case, exhibiting materials and documents of great historical value for the country should be understood within the framework of this continuous balance between tradition and renewal. Books, publications, and films published by the Armed Force are available at Palazzo Aeronautica, and soon, thanks to the work of the Historical Office of the Air Force Staff, it will also be possible to “walk” through it and interact with objects and works of art from the era through a very faithful virtual reconstruction of the historical halls. For further information, visit the website
www.aeronautica.difesa.it Detailed information regarding the extraordinary opening of the Air Force Palace (located at Viale Pretoriano 18 – Rome):
Saturday 23rd, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry reserved for FAI members, with the possibility to join on site (last entry 5:30 PM).
Sunday 24th, 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Open to the public with priority access for FAI members, with the possibility to join on site (last entry 5:30 pm). Guided tours are also available in English and French.
