Palazzo Barberini

Palazzo Barberini is a museum and city palace in Municipio I, Rome, housing roughly 500 paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries spread across three floors. The collection is arranged chronologically through 34 exhibition rooms featuring large halls with historic interiors.

Construction of the palace started in 1627 under architect Carlo Maderno, who designed the initial plans for the Barberini family. Later contributions came from Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini, who added architectural elements and modifications.

Named after the Barberini family and their famous bee emblem, the palace now serves as a gallery where visitors walk through rooms with painted ceilings and gilded details. People come to see works by artists like Caravaggio and Raffaello displayed in what were once private chambers.

The museum is located on Via delle Quattro Fontane 13 and opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 with final entry at 17:00. The rooms span three floors, so visitors should allow time to move through the chronologically arranged halls.

At the center of the palace stands a grand hall with columns surrounding the Fountain of Bacchus, decorated with motifs that echo the adjacent garden. This design links the interior spaces with the outdoor grounds through repeated plant imagery.

Location: Municipio I

Inception: 1627

Architects: Carlo Maderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Francesco Borromini

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Website: http://barberinicorsini.org

GPS coordinates: 41.90332,12.48986

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22