I took this photo with my Nikon 35TI loaded with a roll of Ferrania P30 behind the Quirinale Palace, the official residence of the President of the Republic of Italy while one night I was taking a casual walk along Via XX Settembre, heading towards Piazza Navona, passing through Quirinale Hill, Montecitorio (the Parliament building) and then the Senate.
Instead of using the main streets, I often like to venture off the beaten track. In this case, there is nothing actually ‘hidden’ or ‘mysterious’ about what can be seen. This is why nobody thinks of cutting through these streets and venturing into these small alleys. However, to the eyes of a photographer, the lack of crowds offers many opportunities.
In this shot, Rome shows its austere, introverted and institutional face with the quiet persistence of its institutional power, even after dark.
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Gary Smith on Behind the Quirinale – One Shot Story
Comment posted: 21/02/2026
Walter Reumkens on Behind the Quirinale – One Shot Story
Comment posted: 21/02/2026
When I see the photo, it brings back bad memories. In an alleyway like this one in the early 1990s, my Nikon F3HP was stolen by a cunning gang. Not only that, but also cash, ID documents and my plane ticket. It happened on the day of my departure after a week's stay in Rome, near the Pantheon. In retrospect, the gang's performance was absolutely cinematic. Well, I survived.
Before I forget, how was the photo exposed? I wanted to try taking such shots at night with Ilford Delta 3200 at ASA1600, 1/30 sec. and open aperture. Without exposure metering.