Barberini Palace: the baroque residence of the National Gallery of Ancient Art of Rome

Palazzo Barberini in Rome: the baroque masterpiece of the National Gallery of Ancient Art

The baroque residence of Palazzo Barberini is one of the most stunning and majestic buildings of Rome city center and was built in the XVIIth century by 3 of the most important architects of history - Carlo Maderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. Located in Trevi district, Palazzo Barberini - together with Palazzo Corsini - nowadays hosts the National Gallery of Ancient Art, the main museum of this kind in Rome as well as in Italy.

Palazzo Barberini is a triumph of baroque majesty thanks to some architectural masterpieces: the glass loggia in the porticato facade made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the wonderful vault of the entrance hall, painted by Pietro da Cortona, with a joke of illusionism creating a fresco open sky ceiling of the Allegory of the Divine Providence and the two main monumental stairs, the oval helicoidal staircase conceived by Borromini and the square-shafted staircase designed by Bernini.

Palazzo Barberini, being the headquarter of the National Gallery of Ancient Art, hosts some of the most important paintings of the Italian art such as the Fornarina made by Raphael, Judith Beheading Holofernes painted by Caravaggio and the portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein. Palazzo Barberini hosts also a collection of sculptures that includes the Vestal Virgin Tuccia made by the Roccoco sculptor Antonio Corradini. In addition to the permanent collection of Ancient Art, Palazzo Barberini usually hosts also temporary art exhibitions that can be visited with the same ticket.

FAQs about visiting Palazzo Barberini:

What can be found inside Palazzo Barberini?
Palazzo Barberini is a treasure of masterpieces divided in centuries, in its exhibition rooms are displayed 4 paintings made by Caravaggio - the Narcissus, Judith beheading Holofernes, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Francis in meditation - and the Fornarina painted by Raphael, in addition to paintings made by Tintoretto, Tiziano, El Greco, Guido Reni, Guercino, Vanvitelli and some sculptures created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

How long does the visit at Palazzo Barberini take?
A standard visit at Palazzo Barberini approximately takes 2 hours, to discover the exhibition rooms displayed on two floors (ground and first floor).

Is there the possibility of a free entrance to Palazzo Barberini?
Since Palazzo Barberini belongs to the circuit of state museums, each first Sunday of the month the entrance is free. Nevertheless, our suggestion is to make an early booking as Palazzo Barberini is one of the most important museums to visit in Rome by tourists as well as locals.