Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Palazzo Barberini

Disappointing Experience at the Caravaggio Exhibition As a huge admirer of Caravaggio, I traveled to Rome specifically to see the exhibition at Palazzo Barberini, along with a friend who is a professor of Fine Art. Sadly, the experience was deeply disappointing due to very poor organization. Despite booking a specific time slot (8:20 PM) and paying €18 per ticket, we were let in with large crowds of people, many of whom had later time slots. The staff didn’t bother checking entry times, which led to extreme overcrowding inside. We had to wait up to 20 minutes just to see a single painting, and the air quality was terrible due to the number of people. Even worse, audio guides were played aloud in various languages without headphones, turning what should have been a peaceful, respectful gallery visit into a chaotic, noisy experience. It felt more like a busy market than an art exhibition. The exhibition catalogue was also disappointing—€40 for a generic book about Caravaggio that had little to do with the actual exhibition. I ended up buying a smaller one that was slightly more useful. We weren’t just random critics—we were excited, genuine visitors who expected a world-class experience and left feeling frustrated and let down. Palazzo Barberini seriously needs to reconsider how it handles high-profile exhibitions. In the end, it felt more like a money-making machine than a well-organized, memorable cultural experience. A real shame, considering the incredible art on display.

The Caravaggio exhibition at Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica has been a highlight of our visit to Rome. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see, up close and personal, so many stunning Caravaggio works of art at one exhibition. Tickets can be purchased online and the exhibition runs until July. Even though you can select a time which limits the numbers for each visit, we found that it was very busy and crowded. It is a small price to pay however to experience this wonderful exhibition. If you are in Rome and can get tickets, I highly recommend that you do.

Amazing place, the Caravaggio 2025 exhibition is (was) outstanding. Detailed in all the phase of his life from Rome, Naples, Sicily and Malta times. Unforgettable

Endless rooms filled with the most beautiful art! However, now it’s split between Carravagio pieces and everything else. We had a ticket for the main part of the house, but we didn’t expect it to be split so it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t see the rest.

Decided to hide here from the unexpected drizzle falling upon Rome, and couldn't be more pleasantly surprised. Took around two hours overall to see everything including a lovely garden a bit further into the gallery yard, and the rooms were almost empty during the last few working hours. Each time you enter a room with a gorgeous ceiling, your mouth falls open. Caravaggio stuns as always, and you can wander around counting the number of Judith' and Holofernes' heads you can see portrayed by different artists. There's this one room that stands out-it feels malleable, grand, and intimate to a fault, despite other visitors craning their necks up near you. What a miracle, truly!

The Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica at Palazzo Barberini is an absolute must for art lovers. The collection is impressive, featuring masterpieces by Artemisia Gentileschi, Raphael, and Caravaggio. The palace itself is stunning, with beautifully decorated ceilings and grand architecture. Unlike other major museums in Rome, it’s not overcrowded, allowing for a more immersive experience. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is peaceful, making it a perfect place to appreciate Renaissance and Baroque art. Highly recommended for those who enjoy history, culture, and a bit of tranquility in the heart of the city.

Really great museum for some very old and beautiful art pieces. The propriety itself is also beautiful, and had a rich history behind it dating back to the 1600s. Would not put this in front of some of the bigger museums in Rome but it certainly was a great pick for a 1-2 hour visit once you get your top priorities out of the way.

Palazzo Barberini offers a beautifully curated Renaissance art collection, perfect for art lovers seeking a peaceful experience. The gallery is just the right size — not overwhelming or crowded — allowing visitors to truly appreciate masterpieces in a tranquil setting. A must-visit for those who value quiet, thoughtful engagement with art.

So, we went to the Borghese the day before and were surprised the second floor was closed...I looked online to see what the reason for the closure was and found it was due to renovations but....many of the works were moved here - the National Art Gallery at the Palazzo Barberini. And....if you had tickets from the Borghese your cost to get in here was just 5€ with no advance purchase needed.... We walked over and not on,y was the internet correct that we could get in for 5€ by showing our tickets from the Borghese, but NO ONE WAS HERE!!!! It was amazingly uncrowded and quiet..in September...in Rome...there is an amazing amount of fabulous art here and everyone is crowded into a few museums....and this isn't one of them, so I highly recommend a trip here if you want a break from the crowds. The museum is huge...we thought this was maybe a 1 hour activity but we were here several hours. The works from the Borghese were indeed here, but we saw so much more too. Staff were relaxed and friendly; I think they were also benefiting from the smaller crowds. Be ready to put all bags and water bottles into lockers. They take a 1€ coin that you get back when you pick up your items. The kind guard had some extra coins to loan to guests who like us didn't have change. Definitely don't miss this less crowded, and amazing museum.

Palazzo Barberini A fabulous palace with glorious rooms and ceilings full of glorious artwork. Definitely a must visit. A ticket here also gives you entrance to Palazzo Corsini.

Palazzo Barberini , the marble used to build the facade was taken from the Colosseum. The building itself and its stairs are a work of art . The building houses works by Raphael and Carravaggio. Many of the sculptures and marble works were done by Borromini and Bernini. Look it up on YouTube good audio guide videos available. The palace is relatively uncrowded . Nice palm trees outside and looks like some cats have taken up residence outside the palace. An absolute pleasure often over looked .

Most foreign tourists check off the Coliseum, Vatican, Galleria Borghese, and the Forum when they visit Rome for the first time. Not the Palazzo Barberini. Which is actually kind of nice. ***** But no one told me (nor did I read it anywhere) that the Palazzo Barberini can only be visited--even in March!--on the weekends with tickets purchased online. So I tried to stroll in one Saturday, queueing to get into the Special Exhibitions only to be told, "Sorry, no tickets available." This indeed turned out to be the case. When I went back 10 days later, I was able to visit the Palazzo Barberini, one that I was grateful was not mobbed by Chinese and American tourists hyper-kinetically taking selfies in front of the works of art. But the Caravaggio painting of "Judith with the Head of Holophernes" was not on the walls! (In Seattle 18 months ago, the Artemisia Gentileschi painting of the same title, made a huge splash at the Seattle Art Museum). In fact, it appeared that it was part of the Special Exhibitions in the other wing of the museum, one devoted to Artemisia's work. So I missed one of the most important works of the famed Barberini Collection in Rome, despite TWO visits via the challenging (on the feet) cobblestone paved streets of the Italian capital! But I did see Pietro da Cortona's "Allegory of Divine Providence [crowning the Barberini pope Urban VIII] on the ceiling of the second floor reception hall. Having seen it mostly as a postage stamp-sized image in art history textbooks, this was a revelation. This despite the fact that the immense hall that day "happened" to be the occasion for a large gathering of middle school students who were running around and doing school projects--with crayons on butcher paper--, on the floor. ***** I wish I had picked up the "Guide des collections du Palais Barberini. at the gift shop. Difficult if not impossible to order online.

Another listing, same Palace, folks - Palazzo Barberini, housing the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica. It means that I have to write another review, yeah? Why not? Like I said, I love this particular historic site, for the palace, the surrounding grounds, and the collection of art and sculptures, all very important antique masterpieces. I'm talking centuries old, which certainly is a foreign concept to us, Americans. That's why my imagination goes wild when looking at all this ancient art. It's no use in describing the paintings here, or bombarding y'all with Italian names that likely tell little to anyone who's not a history buff or art aficionado. Just trust me in marking this place as a must go if you're in Roma. You'll enjoy it! Well maybe one, a detached fresco (affresco staccato) bought by the Italian state in 1995, originally from Casino Del Bufalo that was demolished in the 19th century, Parnassus by Taddeo Zuccari Sant'Angelo in Vado 1529 ~ Roma 1566.

No lube to get in feb 2017, $20/US per person. Not too much to see. Cute kitty cat outside!

I very much enjoyed the facilites and the collection here. There were ongoing rennovations, so the entire palazzo was not open to the public. I hope to be able to go back after they are done so that I can see the entire facility. The grounds are lovely and offer a bit of quiet, even though you are in the heart of one of Rome's busiest districts. Since I am a fan of Caravaggio's work, it was wonderful to see the examples here. The works are truly vibrant. I was taken aback by the presence of the Henry VIII portrait. Not something you really expect to see in an old Italian palace. We did not spring for the audio self tours, but I think we should have. One thing to remember here is that they do not allow pictures to be taken in the museum. The gift shop has books that illustrate the works of art on display and allow you to buy some trinkets to memorialize your visit.