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For other senses of this word, see capitol (disambiguation).
Capitol comes from the Latin Capitolinus Mons in Ancient Rome. It was the seat of the Roman Republic and today is the seat of the Mayor of Rome.
[edit] Capitols in the United States
Capitol is the name generally given in the United States to the building in which the executive and/or legislative branches of local or national government are housed. Washington, D.C. houses the United States Capitol.
Each U.S. state has a capitol, called the state capitol or statehouse. The first capitol building in America was the 1705 Williamsburg Capitol in Williamsburg, Virginia, the capitol of Virginia during the colonial period. It was reconstructed and is now part of the restored historic area of Colonial Williamsburg. See List of U.S. state capitols.
[edit] Other capitols
The Capitole de Toulouse is the seat of the municipal administration of Toulouse. The Capitouls (governing magistrates) of Toulouse embarked on the construction of the original building in 1190, to provide a seat for the government of a province growing in wealth and influence. The name Capitole referred not only to the Roman Capitol but also to the capitulum which was the chapter of the governing magistrates. The current façade dates from 1850, built according to plans by Guillaume Cammas. The eight columns represent the original eight capitouls. In 1873, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc built a belltower typical of the style of northern France. Only the Henri IV courtyard and gate survive from the original mediaeval buildings. Today the Capitole houses the city hall, as well as an opera company and symphony orchestra. The Salle des Illustres contains 19th century artworks.
The Capitolio Nacional houses the Congress of Colombia.
The Capitolio de Puerto Rico houses the legislature of Puerto Rico.
The Capitolio Nacional houses the National Assembly of Venezuela.
El Capitolio of La Havana seat of the Cuban Academy of Sciences