Palazzo Barberini - National Gallery of Ancient Art and Italian Numismatic Institute

The palace was built in the period 1625-1633 by expanding (in the forms of the early Baroque) the previous building of the Sforza family by creating an acca structure, characterized by a nymphaeum atrium, a diaphragm between the entrance loggia and the garden developed on the back.

The author of the project is the elderly Carlo Maderno, assisted by Francesco Borromini.

After Maderno's death, the construction site passed from 1629 under the direction of Bernini again with the collaboration of Francesco Borromini, who was responsible for numerous construction and decorative details such as the elegant spiral staircase in the west wing of the building, with which the staircase dialogues. of Berninian honor with a square plan in the east wing.

In 1631 the world premiere of Il Sant'Alessio by Stefano Landi took place, with Marc'Antonio Pasqualini and in 1632 the inauguration of the Teatro di Palazzo Barberini alle Quattro Fontane (3,000 seats) took place with the premiere of Il Sant'Alessio with Pasqualini.

In 1633 the premiere of Erminia sul Giordano by Michelangelo Rossi, with Pasqualini, takes place.

The large hall on the main floor was decorated in the period 1632-1639 by Pietro da Cortona with a fresco depicting the Triumph of Divine Providence: you can see the powerful perspective from below up. Some frescoes in the chapel are also due to the same painter and to his help.

Other rooms were decorated, among others, by Andrea Sacchi and Giovan Francesco Romanelli.

In 1639 there was the world premiere of Chi suffre speri by Marco Marazzoli and Virgilio Mazzocchi and in 1642 of Il palazzo encantato d'Atlante by Luigi Rossi, with Pasqualini.

The gallery was founded in 1895 to collect works from various private collections and from the Monte di Pietà.

The museum houses, among others, works by Filippo Lippi, Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Holbein, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Guercino.

Map: Palazzo Barberini - National Gallery of Ancient Art and Italian Numismatic Institute