When you visit Rome you’re already aware that the same ticket allows you entrance to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill: it’s widely advertised and it features prominently on most travel guides.

What not everybody knows, on the other hand, is that the same type of deal exists for other museums… which is what this post is about.

In the interest of spreading correct information about the many options that await you as you prepare to spend some time in Rome, here is one such special offer which aims at promoting two of the most beautiful museums in the city: Galleria Corsini & Palazzo Barberini.

The former is a 18th century palazzo in Trastevere, whereas the latter was built in the 17th century by the square of the same name (subway stop: Barberini), and has been owned by some of the most famous families of Rome’s aristocracy: the Sforza and the Barberini themselves.

From Caravaggio to Bernini

Both buildings now belong to the Italian Government and have been turned into museums: Palazzo Barberini, in particular, houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art, an umbrella term to define all paintings produced before the 1800s. The museum also hosts statues from ancient Rome to Bernini’s, although the most well known masterpieces preserved in this magnificent building belong to Caravaggio, Pietro da Cortona, Raphael or Hans Holbein’s famous portrait of Henry VIII.

The mansion itself has been designed by Carlo Maderno, Francesco Borromini and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which is the reason why is comprised of so many different architectural styles. You can easily walk to Palazzo Barberini if you’re staying at one of our managed accommodations such as Dormo da Lady, Via del Mortaro or Via degli Avignonesi (both of them!).

The history of Galleria Corsini

On the other side of the city center, Galleria Corsini is hosted inside the palazzo by the same name, which belonged to a Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini. It is walking distance from several of our holiday rentals, including Via delle Mantellate and Wanderlust, and its current looks are a result of it being rebuilt over a 15th century mansion called Palazzo Fuga, which in turn had been erected using the remains of a number of Roman buildings. By the way, if you visit now you will be able to take a peek at some archaeological surveys, which are ongoing!

Galleria Corsini is the second branch of Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica, and what is interesting about its collection is its “nature”: this was a quadreria, which means a personal collection of paintings which, in modern terms, could be very well defined as being… all over the place. Cardinal Corsini loved still life pictures, but he also had a passion for Flemish portraits, and he wasn’t indifferent to Caravaggio, as well as “oddities” like amber ornaments or bronze statuettes: this reflects on the very diverse catalogue of the available works of art that can be seen in this spectacular building overlooking the Janiculum Hill and the Botanical Gardens (the onetime park of Galleria Corsini itself).

The other important element about Galleria Corsini is the presence of Christina, the former queen of Sweden who renounced the throne to convert to Catholicism: she lived from 1658 to the end of her life in this very palazzo, and is one of the very few women to have been buried under the Vatican. As a matter of fact, her bedroom is now part of the areas open to the public.

What to expect from Galleria Corsini & Palazzo Barberini

Parallel to their astounding collections, the two museums tend to host a number of temporary exhibitions, often on contemporary leading figures in the world of art – a bold move which allows the masterpieces from the past to enter a dialogue with what is current in the world of art.

Regardless of what you may think about contemporary art, a visit to Galleria Corsini or Palazzo Barberini is extremely recommended: it’s a completely different type of visit when you think of the masses of tourists in such places as the Vatican Museums, or the limited number of people allowed daily in the Galleria Borghese.

The experience is unhurried, giving you plenty of time (and space!) to appreciate the minutiae of each displayed work or object – as it should be! And at times you will feel like you’re the only person walking through their halls and corridors.

The good news is, discovering these two jewels in Rome comes at a very cheap price: 12 Euros will allow you to enter both Palazzo Barberini and Galleria Corsini with just the one ticket, which will be valid for 10 days!