Rome has 600+ noble palazzi — most tourists only see them from OUTSIDE. Behind those facades: frescoed ceilings rivaling the Sistine, private art rivaling the Uffizi. 15 are OPEN to the public. 20 hidden museums →
1. Palazzo Doria Pamphilj (Via del Corso): 1,000+ paintings — Velázquez's Pope Innocent X. Still OWNED by the Doria Pamphilj family. €14. Audio by the prince. 2. Palazzo Barberini: Raphael, Caravaggio, Pietro da Cortona ceiling. €12. 3. Galleria Spada: Borromini's forced perspective corridor. €5. 4. Palazzo Corsini (Trastevere): Rubens, Van Dyck in Queen Christina's residence. €12. 5. Villa Farnesina (Trastevere): Raphael's Galatea fresco. €10. Mon-Sat 9-14.
6. Galleria Colonna: ONLY Saturday 9-1:15pm. Battle of Lepanto ceiling. €15. 7. Casino dell'Aurora Ludovisi: Caravaggio's ONLY ceiling painting. Limited dates. 8. Palazzo Farnese (French Embassy): Carracci gallery — book at invfrfreinscriptions.com. FREE. Book 2-3 months ahead. 9. Villa Torlonia: Mussolini's residence — 3 museums. €6-11. 10. Palazzo Venezia: Mussolini's balcony. €10.
11-15: Palazzo Sacchetti (FAI open days). Palazzo della Cancelleria (by appointment). Palazzo Mattei (courtyard with Roman reliefs). Casino Nobile Villa Torlonia. FAI Open Days (Spring + Autumn): 50+ normally-closed palazzi open for ONE WEEKEND. fondoambiente.it.