Palazzo Colonna: A Must-See Gem For Those On Vacation In Rome

If you are a serious culture vulture who likes to admire the greatest works made by human hands, then one of your bucket list destinations has to be Rome. With a villa in Rome, you can discover the ancient ruins of the Colosseum, Michelangelo's painted glories on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the unbelievable scale and architectural splendor of St Peter's, and much more besides. However, beyond the most famous attractions of the city, there is also an impossible wealth of other incredible attractions, buildings, works of art, examples of stunning city planning, gorgeous gardens, collections of incredible artefacts, and more to be explored. In fact, there is more to see in Rome than one could get to if they had full lifetimes to wander the beautiful streets and amazing attractions of the city. However, if you're looking for something that is a famous must-see but still slightly off the beaten track for many international tourists in Rome to pencil into your next vacation in Rome, then we suggest a visit to the glorious Palazzo Colonna.

The Palazzo Colonna is a block of palatial buildings that is located in the centre of Rome, at the base of the Quirinal Hill and which is built on a site that has housed buildings and homes since before the year 1000AD, including an ancient Roman Serapeum, a 12th century castle, and palaces of twenty generations of the powerful and noble Colonna family of Rome. Today, the palace can be visited and explored and is home to the Colonna Gallery, an incredible museum of Baroque art in the surrounds of frescoed walls and ceilings, gilded corridors, and antique furnishings. The largest noble residence in Rome, this stunning palace is akin to any of the great palatial buildings of Europe and is home to works of art by some of the most famous names in the history of art, making it an absolute must-see if you were thinking about finding a villa in Rome and spending time in the city.

In order to get the present Palazzo Colonna, there were changes and additions that took place over the course of five centuries, leading to a fascinating blend of different styles. From the year 1300 to 1500, the building was the Colonna family fortress. From 1420 to 1431, it was home to Pope Martin V, who had been born Oddone Colonna and, under him, the city of Rome was being recreated anew to revive it after the devastation caused by the papal exile to Avignon and the Western Schism. After his death, however, his own home was sacked in a feud and the property became the home of the Della Rovere family until Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere and thus returned the palace to the Colonna family line. During the Sack of Rome in 1527, the palace was one of the few buildings protected due to the family's connection to the Hapsburg Empire and became a safe haven for more than 3,000 Roman citizens. Throughout the 1600s, the complex was refurbished and transformed into a grand Baroque palace under three generations of the family and the architects Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli, creating an unitary complex around a central garden. The main facades, one facing Piazza SS. Apostoli and the other facing Via della Pilotta, meanwhile, were not completed until the 17th and 18th centuries.

The architect Antonio del Grande also worked on the building during this period and it was under him that the beautiful grand gallery was designed while Girolamo Fontana was tasked with decorating the space. This space is today considered the height of Roman Baroque architecture and design and houses the Art Collections of the Colonna family, representing masterpieces by Italian and foreign artists from the 15th to the 16th centuries. Among the artists represented by the collection are Pinturicchio, Cosmè Tura, Carracci, Guido Reni, Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, Bronzino, Guercino, Veronese, Vanvitelli, and many other notable names. The various rooms of the gallery are themselves also worth admiring, beyond the framed works hanging on their walls, for their fine proportions, elegant design, beautiful decorations and adornments, frescoes, tapestries, antique furnishings, and more.

A truly breathtaking gem of the Italian Baroque, the Palazzo and Galleria Colonna is open to the public on Saturdays from 9am to 1.15 pm with entrance from via della Pilotta, 17. Private visits of the Gallery and the private apartments are possible by appointment seven days a week, however, and can be made by calling +39 06 6784350 or sending them an email request to info@galleriacolonna.it. Guided tours are also offered in Italian, French, Spanish, and English at various points during their Saturday opening hours. To book tickets and get more specific information, just check out their website.

So, should you find yourself on holiday in a villa in Rome and in search of one of the most beautiful architectural gems full of some of the most incredible works of art in Italy, look no further than the amazing Palazzo Colonna.