The National Gallery of Ancient Art is a museum and two galleries: Palazzo Barberini and Galleria Corsini.

They house over 5,000 works of art including paintings, sculptures, sketches, and decorative arts from the XIII to the XVIII century.

The heritage of the National Galleries was formed in 1883 with the donation to the State of Italy of the Corsini collection, then located in Palazzo Corsini.

The collection was soon enriched with works from prestigious Roman collections, so much so that in 1949 the Italian State purchased Palazzo Barberini to open the new headquarters of the National Gallery in 1953.

Touring Palazzo Barberini Gallery

Palazzo Barberini is an institution of historical and cultural value.

Its construction, in the XVII century, was led by a collaboration between important architects of the time: Borromini and Maderno.

The majesty of Palazzo Barberini consists in the fusion of styles and talents, a union that creates an architectural icon of the Roman Baroque.

With such a rich past, the building opens to visitors showing a priceless treasure of works of art, transformed from a residence to a museum, its rooms host art galleries, unique views and temporary exhibitions.

Among the main works of Palazzo Barberini, which are part of the permanent collection, there are a lot masterpieces.

By Andrea Del Sarto, Pompeo Batoni, Gian Lorenzo Bernini himself, Canaletto, Guercino, Perugino, Filippo Lippi and many others.

In particular, La Fornarina by Raphael and several of the most important works by Caravaggio are worthy of note.

Among these Judith and Holofernes, Narcissus and St Francis in Meditation.

Touring Palazzo Corsini Gallery

Galleria Corsini, located in the Palazzo of the same name in the Trastevere district, built starting in 1736 by the Florentine architect Ferdinando Fuga for the Corsini family.

It home, together with Palazzo Barberini, to the National Gallery of Ancient Art of Rome and the Accademia dei Lincei.

The museum houses a vast collection of works of art, commissioned by Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini, nephew of Clement XII, and expanded during the XVIII and XIX centuries.

Thanks to sales, purchases and donations.

The collection, consisting of pieces of Flemish and Italian painting between the XVI and XVII centuries.

Documents the collecting taste of the rich Florentine family and the activities promoted during the government of Pope Corsini.

First and foremost the defense of the cultural heritage, accumulated over the centuries with the creation of large public institutions.

Booking & Travel

National Gallery of Ancient Art wheelchair accessible tours.

Unmissable visit at it with our Rome Accessible Tours.

Specifically tailored to wheelchair users, reduced mobility persons with an adapted transport.