San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
Rome, Italy
Palazzo Barberini, Rome
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Photo: Mallowtek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket
- ≈ €15, with Palazzo Corsini in Trastevere
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Tue–Sun ≈ 10:00–19:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 2 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Closed
- Mondays
- Highlights
- Raphael's Fornarina, Caravaggio, Pietro da Cortona's ceiling
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Location
- Via delle Quattro Fontane 13; Metro A Barberini, 3 minutes
Key facts
1625–1633built for the family of Pope Urban VIII Barberini
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English Wikipedia3 architectsMaderno, Bernini and Borromini all worked on it
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English Wikipedia1633–1639Pietro da Cortona painted the great hall ceiling
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English WikipediaLa FornarinaRaphael's portrait, around 1520
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English Wikipedia1949the state bought the palace for the National Gallery
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English WikipediaPalazzo Barberini tickets and hours
The ticket costs about €15 and usually also covers Palazzo Corsini in Trastevere, where the collection continues — keep it for a few days. The gallery opens Tuesday to Sunday from around 10:00 to 19:00 and closes on Mondays. Queues are rare.
A papal family palace
The palace was built in 1625–1633 for the family of Pope Urban VIII, Maffeo Barberini. Carlo Maderno began it; after his death the young Bernini took over, assisted by Francesco Borromini, soon to be his great rival. The result was one of Baroque Rome's most splendid palaces, with gardens and a theatre.
Its two staircases are a duel of geniuses: on the left, Bernini's grand square stair; on the right, Borromini's elegant oval spiral with paired columns. Climb both — a free lesson in Baroque architecture.
Pietro da Cortona's ceiling
The Gran Salone is crowned by one of the Baroque's most overwhelming ceilings, Pietro da Cortona's Triumph of Divine Providence (1633–1639). Dozens of figures and allegories swirl overhead with giant bees — the Barberini emblem — while painted architecture opens the roof to the sky. There are benches, so sit and take it in.
Masterpieces of the collection
The National Gallery of Ancient Art covers painting from the 13th to 18th centuries. The star is Raphael's La Fornarina (around 1520), a young woman wearing an armband inscribed with the painter's name — said to be his lover, a baker's daughter. Here too are Caravaggio's *Narcissus* gazing at his reflection and *Judith and Holofernes*.
Other treasures include Holbein's portrait of Henry VIII, and works by Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Filippo Lippi and Guido Reni.
Barberini bees all over Rome
The family emblem — three bees — turns up all over the centre. Outside on Piazza Barberini stand Bernini's Triton Fountain and, at the corner of Via Veneto, his little Fountain of the Bees. You'll find them on Bernini's baldachin in St Peter's and on countless coats of arms. Romans quipped that 'what the barbarians didn't do, the Barberini did', since the family stripped bronze even from the Pantheon's portico.
What to see
- Raphael's La Fornarina — with his name on her armband.
- Caravaggio — Narcissus and Judith and Holofernes.
- Holbein's Henry VIII — the famous royal portrait.
- Pietro da Cortona's ceiling — the Gran Salone.
- Bernini's staircase — square, left of the entrance.
- Borromini's spiral staircase — oval, on the right.
- The palace garden — with a view of the façade.
How to get there
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane is about 3 min away on foot.
- Santa Maria della Vittoria is about 7 min away on foot.
- Quirinal Palace is about 7 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro line A to Barberini, then 3 minutes up Via delle Quattro Fontane.
- From the Trevi Fountain, 10 minutes on foot.
- San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane is 5 minutes further up the street.
- Buses 52, 53, 61, 62 and 63 to Piazza Barberini.
Is Palazzo Barberini worth it?
Yes, for painting lovers: Raphael, Caravaggio and Holbein under one roof without the queues of the Vatican or the Borghese, plus Cortona's ceiling, one of the great sights of Baroque Rome. Combine it with the Trevi Fountain and Bernini's Triton Fountain on Piazza Barberini.
Before you go
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Rome's museums: compare and choose
Museums in Rome rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Sistine Chapel | 64 | 30 min | Vatican Museums ticket ≈ €25 | 2.9 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 34 min walk |
| Domus Aurea | 49 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26 | 24 min walk |
| Ara Pacis | 47 | 1 h | ≈ €13–15 | 21 min walk |
| San Luigi dei Francesi | 47 | 20 min | Free | 23 min walk |
| Galleria Borghese | 45 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 21 min walk |
| Vatican Museums | 44 | 3 h | ≈ €25 | 3.0 km |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 22 min walk |
| Baths of Diocletian | 42 | 1 h | Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12 | 12 min walk |
| Galleria Doria Pamphilj | 39 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €16–18 | 17 min walk |
| Palazzo Farnese | 39 | 1 h 15 min | Paid, booking only | 32 min walk |
| Imperial Fora | 38 | 1 h | Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15 | 18 min walk |
| Palazzo Barberiniyou are here | 37 | 2 h | ≈ €15 | — |
| Villa Farnesina | 37 | 1 h | ≈ €12 | 37 min walk |
| Palazzo Massimo | 34 | 2 h | ≈ €10–12 combined ticket | 12 min walk |
| MAXXI | 32 | 2 h | ≈ €12–15 | 3.4 km |
| Ostia Antica | 31 | 3 h | ≈ €12–18 | 23.6 km |
Baroque around Repubblica
Palazzo Barberini, Borromini's San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Bernini at Santa Maria della Vittoria and the Baths of Diocletian.
- Palazzo Barberiniyou are here2 h · ≈ €15
- 3 min walk from the previous stopSan Carlo alle Quattro Fontane20 min · Free
- 8 min walk from the previous stopSanta Maria della Vittoria20 min · Free
- 7 min walk from the previous stopBaths of Diocletian1 h · Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12
4 places · about 3 h 58 min with walks · 18 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Two staircases — Bernini's and Borromini's.
- Benches under Cortona's ceiling.
- The ticket usually includes Palazzo Corsini.
- Closed on Mondays.
Questions
How much are Palazzo Barberini tickets?
About €15, usually including Palazzo Corsini in Trastevere.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday–Sunday roughly 10:00–19:00; closed Monday.
What are the highlights?
Raphael's Fornarina, Caravaggio, Holbein's Henry VIII, Pietro da Cortona's ceiling and the Bernini and Borromini staircases.
Where is Palazzo Barberini?
Via delle Quattro Fontane 13, 3 minutes from Barberini metro.
Who built Palazzo Barberini?
Carlo Maderno, Bernini and Borromini, in 1625–1633.
How long do you need?
1.5–2 hours.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica — Barberini Corsini
- English Wikipedia, Palazzo Barberini and Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
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