Palaces of Rome. The most beautiful villas and palaces in Rome. Reconstruction of Palazzo Madama and mysterious symbols on the facade

- probably the most attractive part of the architectural heritage of the Italian capital of the Middle Ages. In terms of their scale, they cannot be compared with the buildings of ancient times, however, in terms of elegance, the architecture of the Renaissance has no equal. Another reason you should visit the palaces of Rome is that almost all of them contain interesting museums and galleries.

Palazzo Barberini is a palace located on the square of the same name in the Trevi district. Currently, it has settled within its walls National Gallery ancient art. It is curious that quite recently a mithraeum was found in the rear of the building - a temple to the cult of Mithras, probably dating back to the 2nd century AD.

Three great architects worked on the construction of the full-fledged Palazzo, each of which left its own special features. Carlo Maderno, who worked on St. Peter's Basilica in those years, was supposed to give the building the typical appearance of a Renaissance palace. He was assisted by his nephew Francesco Borromini, and then the brilliant Bernini, who then became even more famous as a talented sculptor, joined the work. The construction of the Palazzo was completed by Bernini in 1633.

Palazzo Barberini is built around an outer courtyard. In the center there is a spacious two-level hall, and behind it is an oval salon. Part of this palace of Rome dominates Piazza Barberini, located on lower level. At the back, a long wing screens the garden. The main building is distinguished by three rows of huge arched windows, similar to a glazed gallery. Two staircases lead to the mezzanine - the grandiose Bernini staircase on the left side and the small oval Borromini staircase with right side. The ceiling of the salon is decorated with the brilliant creation of Pietro da Cortona - a baroque fresco, which became the standard for similar decorations in palaces and temples. The mezzanine rooms are also decorated with frescoes.

The garden of Palazzo Barberini is an example of a “secret garden”, as it is hidden from prying eyes. Here you can look at the monument to the Danish artist and sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who at the beginning of the nineteenth century worked at the nearby Quattro Fontane theater.

Currently, within the walls of Palazzo Barberini is the National Gallery of Ancient Art - one of the greatest collections in Italy with the works of Raphael and Hans Holbein. The Italian Institute of Numismatics still functions in the building. And it was also here in 1950 that the convention was drawn up, which gave rise to the creation of the European Court of Human Rights.

Lateran Palace in Rome

The Lateran Palace in Rome is the former Apostolic Palace, an ancient building from the time of the Roman Empire, and later the main residence of the Pope. Located near the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, cathedral Rome, Rome's Lateran Palace now houses the Vatican Historical Museum, which displays the history of the Papal States. There are also the offices of the Diocese of Rome and the apartments of the Vicar General of Rome, the papal vicar for the affairs of the diocese. Almost until 1970, the palace still housed the collection of the Lateran Museum, which has now become part of the Vatican Museums.

In the 10th century, the house and basilica were rebuilt after a terrible fire, and later luxuriously decorated by order of Pope Innocent III. Not far from the buildings, a Lateran obelisk was erected, which is of ancient Egyptian origin. At 45.7 meters high, the obelisk is still recognized as the tallest in Rome and the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in the world (weighing approximately 230 tons).

At the end of the seventeenth century, Pope Innocent XII established a shelter in part of the Lateran Palace for orphans who worked in a small silk factory. In the 19th century, a museum of religious art and pagan culture was formed in this palace in Rome. And in 1925, an ethnographic museum was added to it, the collection of which was collected by missionaries. Here, in 1929, the Lateran Agreements were concluded - a system of treaties regulating relations between the Papal Throne and the Italian state. Later, the collections of the Lateran Museum were transferred to the Vatican, and the Vatican Historical Museum was established in the palace, which began operating in 1991.

Palazzo Borghese is a palace in Rome, the residence of the Borghese family. He became famous under the nickname Il Cembalo (“harpsichord”) due to its trapezoidal shape. The narrow façade looks towards the Tiber. The main entrance to the building is on the opposite side – the “harpsichord keys”. Through both entrances it is possible to enter a large courtyard, on one side of which there is a two-level gallery with Doric and Ionic columns.

Currently, Palazzo Borghese boasts a delightful courtyard framed by 96 granite columns and decorated with statues. There is also a nymphaeum and a small garden with 3 fountains from the seventeenth century. The courtyard is recognized as one of the most amazing in Rome and throughout Italy.

For a long time, the Palazzo Borghese housed a luxurious family collection of works of art, including works by Raphael and Titian. In 1891 it was moved to the Borghese Gallery in the villa of the same name. It should also be noted that this is a palace in Rome, where a scene from the brilliant film “Romeo and Juliet” of 1968 was filmed.

In order to avoid long queues at the entrance to the Borghese Gallery, we buy tickets in advance via the Internet.

Villa Madama is a famous Renaissance palace in Rome, located on the slope of Monte Mario west of Rome and a few miles north of the Vatican. Luxury villa with its loggia framed by columns, the main garden and the hanging gardens, it always had a special impact on the architects of the High Renaissance.

Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, cousin of the then reigning Pope Leo X, entrusted the construction of this palace of Rome to the legendary Raphael. But in 1520, Raphael died at the age of 37, leaving the villa far from finished, and the construction, begun two years earlier, was given over to the management of his students. And so it turned out that one of the most brilliant teams of all time worked on the building: Antonio da Sangallo the Younger created the final plan of the villa and oversaw its completion, Giulio Romano and Baldassare Peruzzi were responsible for the decorations, Giovanni da Udine made stucco bas-reliefs, which were imitation of the creations of the period Nero. Giovan Francesco Penni and the Florentine sculptor Baccio Bandinelli also worked on the villa. In addition to the loggia created by Raphael, the main attraction of the estate is big hall, which is painted by Giulio Romano.

Villa Madama was one of the first country villas of the Roman type, built for entertainment and leisure, and was built in such a way as to recall the descriptions of ancient villas. The villa had a courtyard with a grand staircase, a circular courtyard near which a garden was planted, an open-air theater built directly into the hillside, a hippodrome and hanging garden with a panorama of the Tiber.

Currently, Villa Madama is the property of the Italian Government, which uses it to organize press conferences and accommodate important foreign guests. Access to the building is limited, and to arrange a tour of the garden you must obtain the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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

The palazzo was designed in 1517 for the Farnese family, and in 1534, after Alessandro Farnese received the title of Pope Paul III, it was significantly enlarged according to the design of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Great 16th-century architects were involved in the construction of the building, including Michelangelo, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and Giacomo della Porta. At the end of the 16th century, the artist from Bologna Annibale Carracci painted a cycle of frescoes in the Farnese Gallery, which gave rise to two different styles of painting of the next century - Roman Baroque and Classicism.

This palace in Rome housed a prominent collection of sculptures, now housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, and a collection of works of art exhibited in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.

The construction of the Palazzo Farnese began in 1517, and it was frozen a decade later during the sack of Rome. And in 1534, Alessandro Farnese invited the brilliant Michelangelo to work on this palace in Rome, who completed the construction of the 3rd floor and the courtyard. In 1541, he also placed a huge papal coat of arms above the central window of the facade - the largest ever made in Rome.

And in the 17th century, Pope Alexander VII allowed the Swedish Queen Christina to reside in the Palazzo for several months, but she complained about the presence of “fiends of hell.” After Christina left for Paris, it became clear that her servants stole silver, tapestries and artistic canvases from the palace, and also burned part of the doors and removed the copper roof.

This palace in Rome is an example for many buildings around the world, among them the Chateau Grimaldi in Aix-en-Provence (France), the National Building Museum in Washington, Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Palazzo Braschi is a neoclassical palace in Rome, located between Piazza Navona, Piazza di Pasquino, Campo dei Fiori and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Currently, within its walls is the Roman Museum, which tells the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

The main entrance to the Palazzo is on Via San Pantaleo, which is still overlooked by the windows of the oval hall of the lobby. From the lobby you can climb up a grand staircase with 18 red granite columns brought from the gallery of Emperor Caligula. The staircase is also decorated with antique sculptures and delightful stucco work by Luigi Acquisti. On the mezzanine there is a small chapel designed by the neoclassical architect Giuseppe Valadier.

Gallery of Doria Pamphilj in the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome

The Doria Pamphilj Gallery is a huge collection of works of art contained in the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome. Located between Via del Corso and Via delle Gatta. The main entrance to the gallery is from Via del Corso. The façade of the palazzo, facing the same street, is adjacent to the temple of Santa Maria in Via Lata. The gallery and palazzo are located in the personal property of the Roman family Doria Pamphili.

An impressive collection of paintings, furniture and statues was collected, starting in the 16th century, by members of the Doria, Pamphili, Landi and Aldobrandini families, who eventually formed one family through marriages. In the collection, among other things, you can look at paintings and furniture from the Palazzo Pamphilj (in Piazza Navona), which belonged to Pope Innocent X.

The palazzo expanded over several centuries. Apparently, now it is the largest in Rome, consisting of personal property. The main collection is located in the state rooms and also in the chapel. However, the majority of the collection is exhibited in small galleries bordering the courtyard. Some of the rooms have been converted into well-lit galleries, where you can view works of medieval and Byzantine art.

In 1767, Palazzo Doria Pamphili was restored for the wedding of Andrea IV Doria Pamphili Landi and Princess Leopoldina Maria of Savoy. The restorations were led by Trapani architect Francesco Nicoletti.

The portrait of Pope Innocent X by Velazquez is considered to be the ingenious creation of the collection. Born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, Innocent ascended the papal throne in 1644. Since 1927, Velázquez's painting has been kept in a special small room together with Bernini's bust of the Pope.

Palazzo Corsini is a prominent palace in Rome in the Baroque style, built for the Corsini family between 1730 and 1740 by the famous architect Ferdinando Fuga. The palace was built on the site of another building, a 15th-century villa that belonged to the Riario family. It is located in the Trastevere area, close to Villa Farnesina.

In 1659-1689, the extravagant Swedish Queen Christina lived at Villa Riario, who renounced the throne, converted to Catholicism and moved from Stockholm to Rome. Under her supervision, the first meetings of the future Roman Arcadian Academy, a community of scientists, poets and art lovers, were held here.

In 17636, a native of Florence, Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini, nephew of Pope Clement XII, bought a villa and a plot of land and ordered to transform it all into a luxurious palace. During the years of the occupation of Rome by Napoleon's troops, Joseph Bonaparte, the emperor's elder brother, lived there. In 1883, the Palazzo and all its property were sold to the Italian state.

Currently, Palazzo Corsini houses the offices of the National Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Lincei), as well as the Corsini Gallery. The palace gardens, climbing up to the Janiculum Hill, are part of the botanical garden of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. The National Gallery of Ancient Art of Palazzo Corsini is a great collection of works of art located on one of the floors of the palace.

There is no city in the world as diverse as . It intertwines ancient and new buildings so subtly and sensually that it is difficult to grasp the impressive difference between eras. Luxurious palaces, rich galleries, interesting - all this is a paradise for lovers of ancient architecture and Roman monuments. In almost every quarter there is an interesting place waiting for you, entering which you will find yourself in a real fairy tale.

A special place among them is occupied by the palaces and galleries of Rome, since they are the main “treasuries” of antiquity. Some of them are known throughout the world, others, on the contrary, are practically forgotten (for example, the Poli Palace received its recognition thanks to, which is both its facade and the fact that Volkonskaya lived here). Palazzo Vidoni is an example of the work of Raphael Santi, but hardly deserves special attention other than to pay tribute to the famous creator. The same can be said about the Palazzo Giustiniani, where the Grand Orient Masonic brotherhood was located.

Palaces and galleries of Rome

We offer you brief description Roman palaces and galleries.

Quirinal Palace
Let's start our journey from the Quirinale Palace, which at the present time is residence of the Italian President. It was built in the 16th century by Domenico Fontana and Carlo Maderna as a summer residence for Pope Gregory XIII.

The interior decoration of the Palazzo Quirinale is impressive: luxurious frescoes, paintings, mosaics, sculptural compositions. Separately, it is worth noting the President's Office, which is used for business meetings and addresses to the people. There is a wooden table from the mid-18th century, and a painting from the 17th century hangs on the wall.

Let's also mention Hall of Mirrors(it is also called the White Hall) - today constitutional judges take their oaths here. It was decorated by order of Napoleon for holding balls; later there was a dining room here. In front of the palace there is a luxurious monument - Fountain of the Dioscuri.

Palace of Venice
This is a striking landmark in Renaissance Rome, built in the 15th century on the initiative of Pope Paul II. Palazzo Venezia was designed by the Florentine architect Maiano, the building materials were taken from. Later they built into the palace
, which is famous for paintings from the life of Christ. In front of the entrance to the church there is a statue of Madame Lucrezia, the patroness of creative individuals. Poets bring their poems here in the hope of worldwide recognition of their work. It is interesting that Mussolini addressed the people from the balcony of the Palazzo Venice. Now at Venetian palace located Museum of Decorative Arts and Wax Museum.

On the corner of the Venice Palace there is another reminder - Palazzo Bonaparte. The mother and sisters of the great commander lived here. It is also famous for the fact that several scenes from the film “Roman Adventure” directed by Woody Allen were filmed there.

Palace of Justice
The palace was built in 1888-1910 on the site of public executions during the Middle Ages. It is made in the spirit of Baroque and late Renaissance. Calderini worked on the palace project, and, fortunately,

According to him, this building is considered one of the most grandiose in Rome. The Romans themselves disapprove of the palace, calling it the “Ugly Palace”, since there are too many different statues on the facade.

Currently located here Italian Court of Cassation and Judicial Public Library.

This is a striking example of Italian Baroque of the 17th century. Its construction began on the initiative of Maffeo Barberini, who was elected Pope under the name of Urban VIII. Such famous architects as Maderna, Lorenzo, Bernini and Francesco had a hand in the construction of the palazzo. Both outside and inside Palazzo Barberini is decorated in an original and unique way; many decorative elements make you stop looking at them.

Over time, a luxurious garden was grown around the palace, but it was soon destroyed. Since the mid-20th century, the palace has housed Gallery of Ancient Art and Officers' Collection.

The Lateran Palace is an ancient building originally from the Roman Empire. Most of the time, the residence of the Pope was located here, but in this building there was also an orphanage, and various museums - ethnological, secular art, pagan culture. In front of the palace is the tallest Egyptian obelisk in Rome, decorated quite luxuriously.

The palace took on its modern appearance in the 16th century according to the design of Domenico Fontana. Nowadays, the Lateran Palace operates historical museum , dedicated to papal history.

Palace of Senators
This is another example from the list of palaces of the Roman Empire. Its history begins in the 1st century, when in place modern building The Tabularium was built. In the 10th century, the Corsi family built a summer residence with fortified walls on the site of Tabularium. In the 12th century, this building began to be used as the residence of the Senator and for holding meetings of city authorities. In the 15th century, Michelangelo, designing a restoration Capitol Square, at the same time worked on transforming the palace, but his designs were implemented by Rainaldi and Giacomo della Porta.

Today you can see the solemn façade with antique sculptural compositions, Ionic columns, where it is located, including the Palace of the Conservatives, Palazzo Nuovo, the Palace of Senators, the Tabularium and other galleries. In addition, the palace is the official residence of the Roman mayor and city officials. You can visit it only on days national holidays when the building is open to tourists.

Vatican Palace
Nowadays, this Roman palazzo is official residence popes, but they built it back in the 4th century by order of Emperor Constantine and called it the Church of St. Peter. The building was rebuilt and improved several times. Adding all new buildings. "Vatican Palace" is most likely tourist name, in fact it is called the Apostolic Palace, since the Pope is considered the successor of the apostles.

This building is one of the world's architectural and cultural monuments. The Vatican Palazzo complex includes:

• directly the papal residence,
• audience halls,
• several chapels,
• and a library.

It is worthy of special attention, from where the Vatican is administered; the archive and departments are also located there. Tourists should also look into the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Slates.

Incredibly beautiful and original, an example of the Renaissance style, the Farnese Palace is the work of talented masters Sangalo the Younger, Vignola and Michelangelo. Particularly impressive is the cornice by Michelangelo, which gives the building

I have a certain monumentality and power. Inside, the palazzo is decorated with paintings, frescoes and sculptural compositions by different creators and different eras. Palazzo Farnese was built in the 16th century for Pope Paul III.

Today, the palace impresses not only with its interior, but also with its courtyard, elegant fountains in the square and beautiful vegetation. For more than 100 years, it has been located here French embassy, which rents this palace.

This structure is probably one of the most original - it repeats the shape of the musical instrument harpsichord. It was built in the 16th century for Tommaso del Giglio and today his coat of arms can be seen on the front doors. By the way, the world famous Carlo Rainaldi was invited to work, who completely rebuilt and strengthened the first floor. For some time there was the residence of Camillo Borghese or Pope Paul V, who collected a considerable collection of paintings by Raphael and Titian, although at the end of the 19th century they were moved to the Borghese Gallery. Today this gallery contemporary art has collected a huge collection of works by artists from all over the world.

Particularly popular is the patio, which is called the best in all of Italy. It is decorated with columns, fountains and sculptures of nymphs, while in all its parts you can contemplate unique landscapes.

This historical memo is suitable for those. Who is interested in places archaeological excavations. Who likes to wander through forgotten ancient buildings and stone-paved streets? Not far from the Colosseum is the “Golden House of Nero,” so named because of the gilded dome at the top. A 35-meter statue of Nero was installed in front of the palace. The interior of the palace was striking in luxury and splendor; the walls were decorated with mosaics and frescoes, and gold paintings were found in some rooms.

Interestingly, newly invented cement was used for the first time to build the palace. After the death of Nero, the entire complex was practically destroyed, and the Colosseum was built in its place. It was only in the 15th century that ancient frescoes were discovered during excavations, and from then on constant restorations began, which continue to this day.

Spada Palace
The history of Palazzo Spada begins in the 16th century, when Michelangelo Spada wanted to build a residence for his family. Da Sangallo the Younger was invited to the construction, who completely designed this structure. The result was a powerful fortress in the mannerist style. Inside, the walls are decorated with mosaics, papal coats of arms and paintings, among which it is worth highlighting “The Battle of Lepanto” and “Phaethon Punished by Zeus” by Van Munder. A luxurious garden was planned next to the palace, but, unfortunately, it has not survived to this day.

In the palace there is Borromini perspective– a small gallery (about 9 meters), but thanks to an optical illusion it seems 4 times longer. On the ground floor of the palace in our time there is Spada Gallery, which consists of 4 halls, each of which is dedicated to a specific type of art. The art gallery features exhibits of paintings, frescoes, mosaics and stuccoes.

Chigi Palace
This building is now the residence of the Italian Prime Minister, but before that it was preceded by a rich history. Its construction was ordered by the Aldobrandini family, and the work was supervised by the affairs of Porta and Maderna. The building is quite huge: 5 floors with wide staircases between them, luxurious rooms and halls, a rich courtyard with fountains and sculptures. Almost immediately after construction was completed, it was bought by the Chigi family.

At the end of the 19th century, the Austrian-Hungarian embassy was located here, but not for long. In 1916, the palace housed the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, and later the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1961, official meetings began to be held in the halls of the Chigi Palace. Prime Minister of Italy.

Palace Colonna
This is a complex structure, the construction of which lasted for 5 centuries by the Colonna family. This provoked the layering of several architectural styles in one building. It intertwined Baroque, mannerism, and urban revival, and Bernini, del Grande, Shore, and Fontana worked on the construction.

Nowadays, the Palazzo Colonna houses Colonna family apartments, and in one of the halls there was Gallery Column, where the most ambitious private collection of ancient art is collected.

Not far from here is Villa Pamphili, a long complex of buildings that belongs to the Doria Pamphili family. The palace was built in the Baroque style in 1435 and the above-mentioned family has lived here for almost 7 centuries. Interestingly, he gained popularity due to the fact that he refused to finance Columbus's voyages.

Today the palace houses Pamphilj Gallery, where you can see works by Bernini, Velazquez, Caravaggio, Titian, Bassano and many others. The gallery walls are decorated with mosaics, Brussels tapestries, tapestries and paintings. Most of this collection was collected by Pope Innocent X, who was a member of the Pamphili family.

Opposite the Vila Pamphili complex is Palazzo Odescalchi, which belongs to the ancient Odescalchi family. The palace was built in the 16th century according to the design of the architect Bernini. If you pass by, be sure to take a look inside, you will see many interesting exhibits.

Palace of Exhibitions
This is a relatively modern building, built in 1883 to host demonstrations and exhibitions. The work was led by the architect Pio Piacentini. During the reign of Mussolini, its interior was slightly changed, as it did not fit into fascist-themed exhibits, but over time everything was updated.

Palazzo delle Esposizioni is huge complex, which occupies an area of ​​about 10 thousand sq.m., consists of dozens of halls with thematic exhibitions. The building also houses a cinema hall, auditorium, bookstore, restaurant and cafe.

Palazzo Madama
This palace in Rome houses seat of the Senate. So unusual name The palazzo was received thanks to Madame Margaret of Austria, who lived here.

The history of the palace began in the 15th century, but since then it has changed owners many times, rebuilt and modern look found only in the 19th century. Today it is a beautiful Baroque building, where at the entrance you are greeted, attention, by the skin of a lion. Columns and a luxurious balcony give the building a monumental feel, and inside the walls are decorated with frescoes by Cesare Maccari. By the way, one of the largest Roman libraries is located here.

Palazzo Altemps
This is an ancient Roman palace, built for Cardinal Altemps according to the design of Longhi in the 26th century. The cardinal housed his collection of antique sculptures in the palazzo.

Since the 19th century, the palace became part of Rome National Museum, which also displays the private collections of several Roman families. Among the exhibits here, noteworthy are the Throne of Ludovisi, the Suicide of Gall, and Minerva with the Snake. Also in the palace building is chapel and private theater.

This is a luxurious museum that you must visit. The building was built in the 16th century, but this is not reflected either in the interior or in the exterior design. It was built on the site of the small baths of Trajan, which served as a reliable foundation for the palace.

On the territory of the palazzo there is several galleries with different artifacts- there are mosaics, frescoes, paintings, and statues here. Moreover, everything is decorated with marble, gold, porphyry and other valuable stones. Here you can look at the "domus" of the patrician of the Roman Empire, Trajan's Column and the Basilica of Ulpia.

Palazzo della Cancelleria
This palace was built at the end of the 15th century for Cardinal Riario by an unknown architect and is considered the best example of the early Renaissance. Materials for construction were taken from the Theater of Pompey, which at that time was already in ruins. In the design of the palace, the Egyptian columns, of which there are 44, make a special impression.

Nowadays, the palazzo belongs to the Vatican, and is located here Papal Office. Also attached to the palace are the Basilicas of St. Clement and San Lorenzo.

Palazzo Sacchetti
Palazzo Sacchetti is a modest but elegant palace built by da Sangallo the Younger for his personal residence. Soon he sold it to Ceuli, and they sold it to the Florentines, whose name he inherited the palazzo.

Walking around the palace, on the walls you can see several coats of arms belonging to different owners. There are beautiful paintings, frescoes and mosaics on the walls. In some rooms you can see antique furniture. Near the palace there is a garden with nymphs and fountains, where you can take a light stroll.

Palazzo Margherita
Another original Roman palace is Palazzo Margherita, which was built at the end of the 19th century. It was built by Koch for Prince Ludovisi. It received its name thanks to Queen Margaret of Savoy, who lived within these walls after the death of her husband.

Palazzo Corsini is a Roman palace in the late Baroque style. It was named after the aristocratic Italian family to which it belonged for a long time.

Brief history

Previously, this site in the Roman district of Trastevere (not far from the famous Villa Farnesina) was the country palace of Cardinal Riario (nephew of Pope Sixtus IV). His guests were also famous people - the architect Bramante, the sculptor and artist Michelangelo, the scientist Erasmus of Rotterdam.

In the second half of the 17th century. The palace was acquired by the ex-Queen of Sweden Christina, who moved to Rome and converted to Catholicism. The Arcadian Academy (Accademia dell'Arcadia) operated in the palace under her patronage. Art lovers, writers and scientists gathered here. They were united by sympathy for the mythical ancient Greek region of Arcadia, about which the poet Virgil wrote.

In 1736, the Florentine cardinal Neri Corsini (nephew of Pope Clement XII) became the owner of this area. According to his order and the design of the architect Ferdinando Fugue, the queen's villa was redesigned into the beautiful Baroque Corsini Palace. It became three-story, it was decorated with balustrades, pilasters, a main staircase, and statues. The walls and ceiling of the palace were painted with many frescoes.

The Corsini family owned several more palaces in Italy, besides the Roman one. The most famous of them is in Florence. To distinguish them, the full name of the Roman palace is Palazzo Corsini Lungarno. And the Florentine palace is called Palazzo Corsini al Parione.

During the occupation of Rome by Napoleon, the Emperor's elder brother Joseph settled in Palazzo Corsini Lungarno. Currently, on the ground floor of the Corsini Palace there are several branches of the national Academy of Sciences, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. The picturesque gardens surrounding the palace, rising to the Gianicolo hill, belong to Botanical Garden University of Rome La Sapienza.

Gallery

The second floor is occupied by the Corsini art gallery, fully called Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica di Palazzo Corsini . It houses part of the collection of the National Gallery of Ancient Art. Another part of the exhibits (chronologically earlier) is stored in another palace -. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica is part of the National Gallery of Rome.

The basis of the exhibition at the Corsini Gallery is the collection collected by the first owner of the castle. Then paintings from the personal collections of other family members were added to it. Among them is Pope Clement XII, known in the world as Lorenzo Corsini. His collection consisted of paintings exclusively of religious content. Subsequently, the family collection was supplemented by paintings by the collectors Torlonia and del Monte di Pieta, who were not relatives of the Corsini dynasty. In 1883, the Corsini Palace art gallery passed to the state, and in 1895 the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica was established.

The Corsini Gallery presents works mostly by Italian artists. The main part of the works dates back to the 17th–18th centuries. The most famous paintings of the gallery:

• "Saint John the Baptist" by Caravaggio;
• “The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem” by Giordano;
• "Saint Sebastian" by Rubens;
• "Madonna della Paglia" by Van Dyck;
• "Madonna and Child" by Murillo;
• "The Triumph of Ovid" by Poussin.

In addition to paintings on religious and historical subjects, genre paintings are also exhibited. In addition to paintings, sculptures are also presented.

Unlike the popular one, the gallery is not crowded, and you can view the paintings without interference. Unfortunately, they do not have explanatory notes.

The wealth of Rome is not limited to just archaeological sites, it also has many superb medieval palaces. Some of them now house museums with rich collections of works of art by great masters, including Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Borromini, Reni, Albani and others. We have collected for you the most popular palaces and villas, striking with their architecture, interior decoration, parks and art galleries.

Separately, we want to tell you about one thing unusual place, namely about Monster Park. It is located near Rome and is definitely worth a visit, especially if you are looking for something special. Here are the most unusual sculptures and fabulous views that Salvador Dali himself once admired. It is best to visit this place with individual excursion, order it.

Palazzo Borghese

Palazzo Borghese XVI century is located in one of the most romantic parks in Rome - Villa Borghese, its shape resembles a green heart. The palace was built for Cardinal Borghese. He fanatically collected paintings and sculptures by European masters. Coming from a wealthy and influential princely family, the cardinal could not skimp and acquire whatever he liked, sometimes even illegally. As a result, by his death the collection already included more than 800 paintings, a huge number of sculptures, including those from the ancient period. This is what the Borghese Gallery is famous for to this day. Here you can enjoy famous works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, Rubens, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Bellini, Canova, Carnach, Correggio and many, many others. People are allowed inside the gallery strictly on time, for 2 hours. Tickets should be purchased at least 2-3 days in advance, or better yet, even earlier. You can purchase them using this link.

Capitoline Palaces ( Campidoglio Palazzi)

Three majestic palaces (the central one is the Palace of Senators, and on the sides there are twin palaces, the Palace of the Conservatives and the New Palace) located on the famous Capitol Square, which was designed by Michelangelo himself. The great master also modified the buildings themselves in XVI century so that they are in harmony with each other. Nowadays the Capitoline Museums are located inside the palaces. Here you can see iconic cultural works of art: the famous sculpture of the she-wolf, works by Bernini, the original ancient statue of Marcus Aurelius and much more.

Barberini Palace ( Palazzo Barberini)

Palace XVI centuries were built over 6 years by order of Maffeo Barberini (Pope Urban VIII ). Three great masters took part in this - Maderna, Borromini and Bernini. The palace has been the property of the state since 1949. Today it houses an art gallery. Some of the most impressive works in the museum are the stunning fresco by Pietro da Cortona, the elaborate staircases of Borromini and Bernini, the statue of the Barberini Faun (Drunken Satyr), the Portland Vase and the ruins ancient temple Mithras.

Palace of Spada (Palazzo Spada)

This palace was built in XVI century by the architect Baronio. The building was perfectly restored and expanded after it was acquired by Cardinal Bernardino Spada. Thanks to this, we can now admire the famous Borromini Perspective Gallery. It is known for its optical illusion: instead of a real length of 8 meters, we see a space measuring 35 meters. The palace also houses a collection of paintings XVII centuries: works by Caravaggio, Titian, Albani, Domenichino, Reni, Carracci, Guercino, Solimena. Meetings of the Supreme Council are also held here.

Villa Giulia

Villa Giulia was built for Pope Julius III . Many famous architects and artists of that era worked on the project. At one time it was the summer residence of the popes. Over the years the villa has changed significantly. Today is here National Museum Etruscan art. This place will especially appeal to those interested in ancient history.

Villa Farnesina ( Villa Farnesina)

The Renaissance villa is located in the famous Trastevere area, at the foot of Gianicolo. It was built for the banker Agostino Chigi according to the design of Peruzzi in XVI century. Frescoes by Raphael and Michelangelo are valuable decorations of the interior. Around the villa there is a luxurious park with fruit trees.

We wish you wonderful walks through the villas and palaces of Rome!

The only city in the world with a 2,700-year history, it has a great many magnificent buildings that millions of tourists who come to it want to see. The palaces of Rome provide an opportunity to successively trace the architectural and artistic image of the Eternal City, from the medieval Baroque of the Renaissance to the free neoclassical style of buildings built in later periods. Built over several hundred years by generations of pontiffs, cardinals or influential individuals close to the top of power, many Roman palaces such as Palazzo Barberini or Palazzo Corsini are today used as museum spaces to display the collections of artistic treasures housed in them. Some palaces in Rome, including the most famous Quirinale, are given over to government offices, but most of them still remain in the private ownership of heirs and are closed to visitors.

Anna Capitolina,

Palazzo Venice is one of the striking examples of architecture from the early Roman Renaissance, the authorship of which is attributed to several outstanding architects. Today it houses the Palazzo Venezia Museum in Rome, which displays medieval collections of paintings, wooden sculpture, decorative arts made of ceramics, bronze and marble, as well as furniture, tapestries and silver jewelry.

Anna Capitolina,

The Doria Pamphili Palace, still owned by the descendants of the famous aristocratic family and one of the largest private museums, hides one of the most prestigious art collections in the world. His gallery, with more than 400 artistic canvases on the walls of the halls from the floor to the ceiling vaults, contains works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, Velazquez, Correggio, Parmigianino and other famous masters of the 17th-18th centuries.

Anna Capitolina

Incredible, but the fact remains a fact. The beautiful historical building Palazzo Pamphilj in Piazza Navona will never again belong to the Italian state. It was sold to Brazil in 1961, and since then its interiors and greatest masterpieces Renaissance masters are considered a rare success. But nevertheless, it is possible.

Anna Capitolina,

Palazzo Braschi, which today houses the Museum of Rome, was erected on the site of a previously existing building, built in 1435 by order of the Prefect of Rome, Francesco Orsini, one of the representatives of the oldest princely families of the Italian aristocracy.

Anna Capitolina,

The Corsini Gallery is the only virtually complete surviving 17th-century Roman quadrium and includes Roman sculptures, neoclassical statues, 18th-century bronzes and furniture, as well as paintings by artists of the Roman, Neapolitan and Bolognese schools. The collection was based on works of art collected in Florence by the Marquis Bartolomeo Corsini.

Anna Capitolina,

Every city block, every building in Eternal City have their own history, and they are all unusual in their own way. The square Colosseum in Rome, being a legacy of the recent past, attracts attention no less than architectural masterpieces Middle Ages. Palazzo della Civilá Italiana (Palace of Italian Civilization) is the official name of one of the most interesting monumental buildings in the Roman quarter of EUR.

Anna Capitolina

In one of the most beautiful buildings Rome, located in Piazza Capo di Ferro, you can see a magnificent collection of works of art, which is the family collection of several Roman cardinals. The gallery in the Palazzo Spada contains paintings by Titian, Guido Reni, Artemisia Gentileschi and many other artists of the Roman, Bolognese and Flemish schools.

Anna Capitolina,

The construction site - Prati di Castello on the right bank of the Tiber - was not chosen by chance. Giuseppe Zanardelli insisted that the Palace of Justice be located near Castel Sant'Angelo, a sad symbol of the judicial atrocities of the Papal State, thereby establishing a new concept of justice.

Anna Capitolina,

The National Gallery of Ancient Art was officially founded in 1893, after Prince Corsini donated a large collection of paintings to the state. Initially it was located in his villa. Over time, the lack of free space to accommodate the constantly growing collection forced the Ministry cultural heritage look for new areas for it. Today the Gallery occupies two buildings - Palazzo Corsini and Palazzo Barberini.

Anna Capitolina

The history of the palace, where meetings of the Senate of the Italian Republic are held today, began in the distant 15th century, during a period of grandiose transformation of its appearance ancient city. It was at this time that luxurious palazzos and villas belonging to noble families began to be built in Rome.

Roman palaces of the Middle Ages

From the very beginning of its foundation and throughout subsequent centuries, Rome has always been distinguished by its monumentality and architectural elegance. During the Roman Empire, palace buildings were built around an atrium - a huge open space surrounded on four sides by a covered colonnade. Similar courtyards, but on a much smaller scale, in the Middle Ages were an integral part of the projects of palazzos being built, and the buildings themselves acquired increasingly complex architectural forms with arcades and loggias, thereby acquiring the distinctive features of an aristocratic home. The open interior space of Roman palaces was often used for theatrical performances, social receptions and various gaming tournaments.

The palaces of Rome, and especially their courtyards, also served as exhibition spaces. For example, in 1500, the courtyard in the palace of Cardinal Giuliano Cesarini actually became a museum - the cardinal allowed guests to admire his collection of finds of ancient art. Subsequently, emulating Cardinal Cesarini, Pope Julius II commissioned the architect Donato Bramante to build the Cortile Ottagonale, the famous Octagonal Court, where the statues of the papal collection could be housed and displayed, as well as to design the enormous courtyard of the Belvedere Palace in the Vatican.

Palaces of power in Rome

Some palaces in Rome, as in many world capitals, are occupied by authorities, local governments and government institutions.

Most significant place Roman representation is undoubtedly the Palazzo del Quirinale - the former summer residence pontiffs, which after 1871 became the residence of the kings of Italy and, finally, the residence of the President of the Republic. Rising atop one of the seven hills, the Quirinale Palace dominates Rome with its imposing size and stunning views.

Another hill is the Capitoline Hill, from the square of the same name overlooking the magnificent palace Senatorial, currently the seat of the municipality of Rome. It is surrounded by two ancient classical buildings: the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatoires, which today house the Capitoline Museums.

Not far from the famous Piazza Venezia is Palazzo Valentini. The palace, built at the end of the 16th century, has been the seat of the regional administration and the headquarters of the Roman province since 1873. In 2005, as a result of archaeological excavations, an entire residential area of ​​​​ancient Rome was discovered underneath it, to which today free access is open.

Among the residential buildings of influential Roman families, the most famous are undoubtedly the 17th-century Palazzo Montecitorio, now the seat of the Chamber of Deputies, and Palazzo Madama, the long-time property of the Medici family, which was later transferred to the Papal State, and after 1870 to the Kingdom of Italy. Today the Italian Senate is located here.

The historical palace of Palazzo Chigi, built in the period 1572-80. Giacomo della Porta, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Italian state in 1916, which installed the Ministry of Colonial Affairs there. Today it is the official reception venue for the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic.