Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, National art museum in Rome, Italy
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica is a national art museum in Rome housed in two historic palaces: Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini. The collection spans paintings from the medieval period to 1800, with a focus on Italian and European art displayed in rooms spread over several floors.
The museum was founded in 1893 to bring together Italian artworks and make them accessible to the public. Later, donations and purchases expanded the holdings, including the collection from Henriette Hertz in 1915.
The name refers to the Italian nation and its art collections, which have been kept here for over a century. Visitors walk through rooms where Italian and European paintings hang side by side, showing different schools and periods.
Both palace locations are wheelchair accessible and allow visitors to explore the rooms at their own pace. Opening hours run Tuesday through Sunday, with a midday break that may vary depending on the location.
In Palazzo Barberini, a ceiling fresco by Pietro da Cortona covers the entire main hall and depicts the Allegory of Divine Providence. The composition extends beyond the architecture and makes the figures hover above visitors' heads.
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