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Palazzo Felici in Norma: the unfinished papal residence in the heart of the Monti Lepini
The monumental Palazzo Felici is situated in the centre of Norma, in the Lepini Mountains. This stately 19th-century residence dominates the main street, and was the result of an ambitious dream: to welcome Pope Pius IX. Although the pontiff never stayed there, its story makes it an essential stop for anyone wishing to discover Norma and its surroundings.
An unfinished papal dream
Its history is bound to Monsignor Annibale Felici, cubicularium to the Pope, one of his closest personal assistants at court. An inscription bears the date 1860, the only certain reference, though it does not specify whether it marks the beginning or end of construction work. The project, however, came to a halt. With the death of the Pope, the upheavals of the post-unification period, and finally the passing of Monsignor Felici himself, the building remained unfinished.
The façade tells its own story
Today the palazzo is split up into private apartments, but its façade still speaks volumes. The eye is immediately drawn to the large doorway, with its original bronze door knocker and the rusticated base, the use of jutting stones to convey a sense of solidity and strength. Looking upward, the decorations adorning the piano nobile come into view. This is a true piece of urban history.
The palazzo is privately owned, and cannot be visited inside. Its façade can be admired freely while strolling through the historic centre of Norma.
