The Bank of Italy has, for more than a century, occupied a position at the forefront of Italy's economic and institutional life. In that time it has become very aware of the need to highlight the value of its architectural and artistic heritage, which it believes to be an important aspect of its role in the country. The Bank owns much that is of cultural significance, from buildings of historical and architectural importance to notable art collections and archaeological finds.
In the course of the Bank's history, art and economics have progressively intermingled as a result of its presence throughout the country. From the first branch headquarters in Florence to the buildings acquired later, the Bank's branches have always been located in a key area of the city, in historic palazzi boasting elements of considerable architectural and artistic worth.
In the buildings erected at the beginning of last century the Bank sought to convey, through the language of architecture and decoration of the time, an image of sobriety and solidity, and austere beauty, that left little or no space for opulence but was always tightly bound up with the economic, social and cultural history of the city and the prestige of the Bank.
The Bank's buildings, therefore, offer evidence of different periods in Italy's history and of political and social events in the country, throughout which the Bank has worked to ensure the stability of the currency and the growth of the economy. Thus many projects have been carried out over the years to make the Bank's works of art known to the public, allowing access not only to its Rome premises but also to some of its main branches, such as that of Milan and the Palladian Palazzo Antonini in Udine.
The Bank's relationship with art has evolved over the years. Its objective now is to keep this artistic heritage 'alive', giving the public every opportunity to learn about the artworks and the buildings, setting up projects on specific themes and lending items to museums.
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