The Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome

The Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome

Rome has been the “house” of kings and popes, infamous aristocracy and politics with their intrigues and mysteries. To testify their immense and magnifique history we have a lot of remarkable palaces here in the “eternal city“.

Great architects of the baroque and renaissance have built palaces for them and many important artists have decorated the insides with frescos and astonishing masterpieces.

Let’s see together which are the most beautiful palaces in Rome.

Palazzo Farnese

Rome by Andrea Spallanzani – Pixabay

In the Regola district, you will find the beautiful Palazzo Farnese.
Located exactly in the homonymous street, it is an example of the Sangallo and Renaissance architecture of the sixteenth century. Antonio Sangallo il Giovane created the project under the assignment of Pope Paul III.

The building of the palace began in 1516. After his death, Michelangelo finished Sangallo’s work in 1549. As a result, some Romans consider the palace as one of the seven wonders of Rome. Therefore they also call it “the cube ” due to its shape.

The restoration carried out in 2000 brought to light poorly cooked and porous bricks that give the building that lively yellowish colour. These bricks alternate with others of a more reddish, almost ferrous colour.
The alternation of the bricks creates a play of contrasts and decorative lozenges.
Inside the building, it is possible to admire the refined “room of the Cardinal” which was frescoed in 1546 by the artist Daniele Volterra.
In the Camerino Farnese, there are frescoes by Annibale Carracci and inside the Hall of Hercules, you will find the statue of Hercules in all its splendour.
The courtyard is beautifully decorated and has a wonderful loggia.

To visit Palazzo Farnese check the website with days and times. You can book directly here.

Palazzo Quirinale 

Rome by Nimrod Oren – Pixabay

The Quirinal palace stands on the homonymous hill in Rome. Since 1870 it has been the official house of the King of Italy, therefore since 1946 has been the house of the President of the Italian Republic.
The Quirinal palace built around 1572, has been beautifully decorated by many artists. For example Pietro da Cortona, Ferdinando Fuga, Domenico Fontana, Guido Reni, Carlo Maderno, Giovanni Paolo Pannini and Alessandro Specchi. Without forgetting the large fragment of a fresco by Melozzo da Forlì.

The building has an area of about 110,000 square meters and is therefore considered second in the world. Before the creation of the Quirinale, there was the Carafa palace also known as “Villa d’Este al Quirinale” and it was the residence of a cardinal.
The same Napoleon who occupied Rome between 1808 and 1813 wanted to make the palace the official residence of the French emperor.

To book your visit to the Quirinale click here and check the opening hours to the public.

Palazzo Doria Pamphilj

Rome by Kookay – Pixabay

This historic building in Rome was built in the first half of the 15th century for Niccolò d’Acciapaccio.
The architect Antonio Del Grande carried out the extension of the building by destroying and acquiring the surrounding houses.
One of the daughters of Camillo Pamphilj owner of the palace married Giovanni Andrea III Doria Landi VI prince of Melfi and for this reason, the palace took the name Doria – Pamphilij – Landi.

The gallery of mirrors

In 1732 work began inside the building. Aureliano Milani frescoed the gallery of mirrors created by the architect Valvassori.
As you will have the opportunity to see, in the vault you will find a grandiose Gigantomachy and on the sides the stories of Heracles. The first tells the story of Heracles and Achelous, while Heracles kills the hydra of Lerna. On the other side Heracles and Antaeus with the same Heracles killing the centaur Nessus.

It’s a must-see!

Check their website here for more information about the palace and the bookings.

Palazzo Barberini 

Rome by Agustín Gómez – Pixabay

Palazzo Barberini is located in Via Quattro Fontane, in the centre of Rome.
The building houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art and the Italian Numismatic Institute.
It was built around 1625-1633 by expanding the building belonging to the Sforza family.

Throughout the seventeenth century, the works of art and the Barberini collection had accumulated in the building.
For this reason, the “Barberini collection” was born and it was thus that a museum was later created.
In 2006 the building was entrusted to the Ancient Art Gallery.
Inside you will find works of works by Tintoretto, Filippo Lippi, Raphael, Holbein, Tiziano, El Greco, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Guercino

The garden

I recommend that you admire the garden of Palazzo Barberini which was originally a real park which was then struck by the urbanism of the Eternal City.

For more information about Palazzo Barberini and to book a visit check their website here

Villa Torlonia

Rome by Andrea Albanese – Pixabay

This particular villa is located along the Nomentana and is currently a public park. The construction of the villa only began around 1806 on a project by Giuseppe Valadier for the Torlonia banker who had bought the estate from the Colonna family in around 1796. The architect joined the two existing buildings to create a manor building. He built the stables and arranged the park by creating symmetrical streets that lead to the palace.

Later a Temple of Saturn was built, some false Ruins and the Tribuna with Fountain, as well as the Caffe-House, the Chapel of Sant’Alessandro and the Amphitheater, which now no longer exist.

After the war, the villa was abandoned in 1978 and for this reason, the Municipality of Rome bought it, making it a public park.

To know more about Villa Torlonia and the museum check their website here. You can book a visit to the museum here. Prices are available here.