This huge neoclassical palace was built in 1882 as an exhibition center, though it has since served as headquarters for the Italian Communist Party, a mess hall for Allied servicemen, a polling station and even a public loo. Nowadays it's a splendid cultural hub, with cathedral-scale exhibition spaces hosting blockbuster art exhibitions. There's a large art book shop, a cafe with a small courtyard, and the swish, glass-roofed Antonello Colonna Open restaurant, serving dinner and a bargain-priced weekday lunch.
Occasional concerts, performances and film screenings are also held here.
