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Galleria Colonna

ArtArchitectureHistoryClosed todayFrom €15Piazza Venezia (bus hub)

The Galleria Colonna is one of Rome's best-kept secrets, partly because it opens to the public only on Saturday mornings. It is still the private home of the Colonna family, who have lived here for over twenty generations, and the gallery they built in the late 1600s is a 76-metre barrel of Baroque extravagance. Gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers, polychrome marble, and a ceiling frescoed with the Battle of Lepanto (the family's proudest moment, when Marcantonio II Colonna commanded the papal fleet) create an effect somewhere between a museum and a stage set. The art is serious: Bronzino, Tintoretto, Guercino, Guido Reni, Salvator Rosa, Vanvitelli and others line the walls, and a cannonball lodged in the marble staircase during the 1849 siege of Rome has been left in place. The ground-floor Princess Isabelle apartments, on the full route, feel like stepping into someone's exceptionally grand living room, which is essentially what they are. What makes it special is the mix of outstanding painting, over-the-top Baroque architecture, and the sense that you are a guest in a private residence rather than a visitor to a museum.

What's On

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 66, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Nearest station: Piazza Venezia (bus hub), Barberini (Metro Line A), Cavour (Metro Line B)

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Hours

MonClosed
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Admission

From €15

Short route €15 (gallery, Pio pavilion, gardens). Complete route +Princess Isabelle apartment €25. Friday guided complete tour €35. FAI and other reductions; under-12s free on Saturdays.

Visitor Information

How much does Galleria Colonna cost?
Standard adult admission to Galleria Colonna is €15. Short route €15 (gallery, Pio pavilion, gardens). Complete route +Princess Isabelle apartment €25. Friday guided complete tour €35. FAI and other reductions; under-12s free on Saturdays.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Galleria Colonna?
Galleria Colonna is open Open to the public Saturdays 09:15-13:15 (last entry). Fridays guided complete tour by reservation only. Private tours other days by appointment.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Galleria Colonna?
Galleria Colonna is located at Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 66, 00187 Roma RM, Italy, in the Trevi / Centro Storico area of Rome. The nearest stations are Piazza Venezia (bus hub), Barberini (Metro Line A), Cavour (Metro Line B).
What can I see at Galleria Colonna?
A lavish private Baroque gallery in a palace the Colonna family has called home for 700 years, open to the public only on Saturdays. Current highlights include The Colonna Gallery (Great Hall), The Princess Isabelle Apartment, The Pio Pavilion.
Do I need to book Galleria Colonna in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Galleria Colonna?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Lalupa (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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