The inner courtyard

The entrance to Palazzo Chigi from Piazza Colonna leads into a large, bright courtyard lined with porticoes, designed by Felice Della Greca.
The courtyard is characterised by a series of arches and square columns, above which runs a strip decorated with weaponry trophies and musical instruments, in 16th century style. 

Above this decorative strip are the arched gable windows of the first floor. Baroque-style stucco decorations can be seen between one floor and another.

The rhythm of the porticoes, decorations and windows is interrupted in the corner between Via del Corso and Piazza Colonna, where the former Palazzo Aldobrandini used to stand. In this part of the palace, the original staircase still remains and the ground floor, which was once home to small shops, is now used for the Press Room.

The top floor, above the cornice, was built by architect Giovan Battista Contini to house the library that was left by Cardinal Flavio Chigi. Contini is also credited with the monumental, enclosed roof terrace facing Palazzo Montecitorio, which was added to contend with the nearby Palazzo dei Ludovisi for the prestige of being the tallest building.

The courtyard is home to an 18th century water fountain decorated with the Chigi family emblem: six hills surmounted by a star. The fountain is situated to the left of today’s main door, but is in line with the former entrance on Via del Corso, opposite Via del Tritone, which has since been closed off.