Palazzo Corsini, Rome — Attraction in Rome

(This should be visited together with the Palazzo Barberini, for they share a ticket. There is a half-hour-plus hike across the Tiber between)

These two Palazzi show (at time of writing: September 2019) two different approaches to displaying 16/17 century art. Both are rather good when viewed together, and recommended.

The Barberini, with more space (but much used for other purposes), has its art laid out more like the norm in a modern museum, sparsely but grouped by period or theme. The frescoes and room decoration are worth your attention also. What is here is good, certainly, but maybe not great: the collection at the Galleria Borghese, for example, might not be much bigger, but is on average (I feel) better. But walk-in tickets for the Borghese are hard to find.

The Corsini (also called Villa Corsini) displays its material in what I understand to be the traditional mode of aristocratic owners like the collection's founders. So, many works cover most surfaces in what is again a lesser part of a very large building. The distribution does not appear random - for the most part it seems thematic. There are a few small sculptures - but the collectors' preference was evidently paintings, and their taste seems to have been quite broad as well as good: there are religious paintings, for example, but many mythological or secular ones too. Perhaps because it is a short-ish walk from the Vatican and the Castel Sant'Angelo, the Palazzo Corsini was quite empty when I visited. There are helpful (portable) interpretation boards for each room: they do not give much detail, but enough for the informed reader, at any rate.

I would not call these unmissable, but they are (in my opinion) good collections, and fair sequels to a visit to the Galleria Borghese. (I did all three in one day - in retrospect not...

The National Gallery of Ancient Art (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica) is held at two historic palaces in Rome. These include the Palazzo Barberini just off Piazza Barberini as well as this museum branch at Palazzo Corsini in Trastevere.

Ticket purchase now €15 and includes entrance to both locations within a 20 day period. Opening times are 10am to 7pm daily, closed on Monday at both museum branches as well.

The National Gallery collection at Palazzo is centred around the Corsini collection which was donated to the Kingdom of Italy at the time of the State's purchase of the palace.

Here you will primarily see artworks from the late-Renaissance up until the late 18th century, artists such as Fra Angelico, Giordano, Murillo, Van Dkyke, Rubens, Reni and Caravaggio are represented within the gallery rooms at Corsini.

The palace itself is also impressive. Originally built in the 15th century, it was renovated in the 18th-century by architect Ferdinando Fuga. This is what you see today during visits. Afterwards, you make your way to the Barberini Palace branch if you intend to visit both museum locations on the same day or just continue onward with other intended sightseeing nearby.

To be fair, this branch is quicker to visit due to the smaller number of fellow tourist visitors and fewer overall gallery rooms compared to what you see at Palazzo Barberini. However, we have enjoyed the masterpieces there more on the occasions that we have been able...

Palazzo Corsini, located in Rome’s Trastevere district, is a magnificent example of 18th-century Baroque architecture and a historic cultural landmark. Originally constructed for the influential Florentine Corsini family, the palazzo features a striking facade adorned with classical symmetry, arched entrances, and ornate stonework. The building exudes the grandeur typical of aristocratic Roman residences of its time, with its stately wooden doors, wrought-iron balconies, and a central courtyard that invites visitors into its elegant interiors.

Inside, the palazzo showcases remarkable architectural details, including a grand staircase framed by stone balustrades and vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate geometric designs. The play of light and shadow throughout the space enhances the sense of depth and highlights the masterful craftsmanship of the era. The symmetrical layout and clean decorative lines seamlessly combine aesthetic beauty with functionality, reflecting the sophistication of its original patrons.

Today, Palazzo Corsini serves as the prestigious headquarters of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy’s oldest scientific academy, founded in 1603. This institution, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and culture, perfectly complements the historical and intellectual significance of the palazzo. Over the centuries, it has become a hub for scholarly research, cultural events, and exhibitions, making it a vital part of Rome’s...