Palazzo Farnese is one of the most prominent palaces in the style of the High Renaissance in Rome. In 1936 it was leased to France for 99 years, and today, the building houses the Embassy of France in Italy.

The Palazzo was designed in 1517 for the Farnese family, and in 1534, after Alessandro Farnese became Pope Paul III, was greatly expanded by the project of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. In the construction of the building was attended by prominent architects of the 16th century, including Michelangelo, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and Giacomo della Porta. In the late 16th-century painter from Bologna, Annibale Carracci created in the Gallery of the Farnese fresco cycle, which marked the beginning of two different styles of painting next century – the Roman Baroque and classicism. This Palace was assembled an outstanding collection of sculptures, now kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, and the art collection exhibited in the Museum of Capodimonte in Naples.

The construction of the Palazzo Farnese began in 1517, and was interrupted ten years later, during the sack of Rome. And in 1534 Alessandro Farnese attracted to work on the Palace of the great Michelangelo, who completed the construction of the third floor and patio. In 1541 he was placed above the Central window of the huge facade of the papal coat of arms – the largest ever built in Rome. When Paul III appeared on the balcony, the entire facade like been the backdrop for his persona. Further modification of the Palace reflect not only changes the status of Alessandro, but also the growing influence of the Farnese family in General.

In the 16th century, two huge granite basin of the Baths of Caracalla were adapted for the fountains in Piazza Farnese, where is facing the facade of the Palace. But in the 17th century by Pope Alexander VII allowed the Swedish Queen Christina to stay at the Palazzo for a few months, but she complained about the presence of "fiend". After the departure of Christine in Paris revealed that her servants stole from the Palace of silver, tapestries and paintings, and burned part of the doors and removed the copper roof.

The Farnese Palace served as a model for many buildings around the world, among them château Grimaldi in AIX-EN-Provence (France), national building Museum in Washington, the Royal Palace in Stockholm.