Rhinoceros, an amazing art space, opened on 13^th October 2018 in the heart of classical Rome, between the Velabro, The Palatine Hill, and the Mouth of Truth. Rhinoceros Palace, itself, which is a total of 3,500 square meters, was designed and furnished by the French architect Jean Nouvel over eight years of work. The project was created and funded by the Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments, which has supported artistic experimentations that go beyond the conventional boundaries between the disciplines: exhibitions, multimedia creations, artistic interferences involving different experiential areas, visual, and performing arts; since 2001.

Rhinoceros Palace’s six floors are entirely dedicated to art, research, and experimentation. It also includes a museum exhibition space, that is even open at night with productions, events, atelier, and 24 residences under the brand of The Rooms of Rome. Each of them is named with the word “thought”, translated into many different languages ​​ that accompany the haiku poems by Raffaele Curi, the art director of the Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments. The residences can be booked from three days to three months, and are available to artists, performers, and anyone who loves art. The Rooms of Rome also offers a wide range of activities, from personalized guided tours, to show cooking, to following short courses to create your own artwork. From each residence window, which develop on four floors, can be seen a unique and different view of the Forum Boarium monuments: The Arch of Janus, San Giorgio in Velabro Church, The Temple of Hercules Victor, and The Palatine The interiors have large windows that see the Forum and rectangular mirrors are placed along the entire length of the wall, so guests can always enjoy the outside view. And on the lower floor, it’s also possible to visit the remains of the Basilica Ulpia, the largest ever built in Rome.

The palace’s gallery restaurant is Caviar Kaspia, a famous Russian inspired gastronomic French brand with over 90 years of history. Caviar Kaspia restaurant offers select products such as specialties based on caviar, Norwegian salmon, or imperial crab for the evening, croissants; and blinis and tartare for breakfast and lunch. With the most magnificent views of classical Rome, visitors are able to enjoy an ample menu during the day. A selection of more structured dishes, including Italian inspired cuisine, created by chef Giovanni Giammarino, are available for dinner. Caviar Kaspia resides on the 5th and 6th floors of the complex and is connected to the exhibition gallery areas of the Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments. It is open seven days a week, from 8 to 24.

The foundation made a three-year partnership with the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, so every year one major work from the Hermitage will be exhibited in the Rhinoceros for three months. The first masterpiece is Michelangelo’s marble Crouching Boy sculpture, which will arrive on 14th December. But the Rhinoceros has already begun to give its mark on Rome. During the October opening, the actor, musician and director Vincent Gallo performed the role of Antonio in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in front of international guests such as the artists Pierre et Gilles, Gerard Depardieu, and the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature, Mario Vargas Llosa. The director of photography and winner of three Oscars, Vittorio Storaro, together with his daughter Francesca, realized a lighting project of the Arch of Janus.  The installations Virtus and Fortuna by Raffaele Curi, are projected on the Palatine Hill.

From the 13^th of October until the 13th of December, the Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments is hosting an exhibition of fourteen drawings depicting monuments of Florence and Rome by Michelangelo, borrowed for the first time from Casa Buonarroti Museum of Florence. From now on the space will be presenting many other art events such as exhibitions, performances, installations, and theatrical performances. There will also be some special shops selling artistic goods. The mixed functions of Rhinoceros are worth following as an extraordinary place dedicated to art with the magnificent terraces on the top floors. It is open every day from 8, and the entrance is from Piazza Bocca della Verità.

 

Rhinoceros Palace

Via di San Giovanni Decollato

Rome