All (rail) roads led to my favorite museum in Roma, Galleria Borghese, last December and recently to a very special exhibit at Palazzo Barberini.
Preface: A few words about how I organize my day trips – a day trip to Roma was a new adventure… hmmm… then I made the decision, planned carefully and took the deep dive …and not only was it perfetto but worth repeating! Read on…
Of course, it is impossible to “see Rome in a day” – the beauty of being here is being able to make multiple visits and focusing on iconic sites/museums. As an Italy trip planner/designer, I take my own advice and carefully map out my itinerary always including “wiggle room” for the unforeseen and unexpected (strikes, delays, weather, etc.) and plenty of time to enjoy my visit. And, so far, so very good!
Roma is only 1-1/2 hours by high speed train Florence. Roma Termini train station has transformed into an ultra modern and very user-friendly station and, predictably, it is VERY busy! I did my homework and found catching authorized taxis not only seamless but now they pretty much all accept credit cards(without grumbling) and speak a little English.
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December Visit to Galleria Borghese…
Although I have visited the Borghese before, it is most definitely worth revisiting. My favorite museum in Roma (and one of my favorites in Italy!), it is simply breathtakingly exquisite.
Cardinal Scipione Borghese had impeccable taste and great wealth and he used both to create his Palazzo, a showplace to entertain and to enjoy. The intimacy and sheer magnificence is indescribable… the collection is phenomenal.
As you walk through the elegant Palazzo, it’s feels like you will be visiting with the Cardinal! Everything is as it was originally (in situ); every room a Baroque treasure luxuriously decorated from floor to ceiling…where to look first? Magnificent sculptures, artwork, frescoes and more in a lavish setting.
Breathtaking Bernini!
Top: Apollo and Daphne
Lower: Persephone and Pluto
The collection which includes Bernini, Caravaggio, Canova and so much more demands that you take your time, meander, pause, appreciate and immerse in the Cardinal’s elegant world.
Top: Paolina Borghese by Antonio Canova
Lower: A stunning collection of Caravaggios
♦ What You Should Know:
You must book tickets in advance and they are very strict about entry times, etc.
Use the official site and get the audio.
Galleria Borghese
Official Site: https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/
Allow time to meander – the grounds and park are spectacular and very popular with locals.
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March Visit to Palazzo Barberini…
Special Exhibit; Caravaggio 2025
March 7 to July 6, 2025
Highly anticipated and deservedly attracting (and receiving) a LOT of attention, seeing the Caravaggio exhibit was a must!
I LOVE visiting museums and special exhibits, especially of artists that I personally love and admire…and no doubt that I love and admire the works of Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio!
… and I LOVED LOVED LOVED this exhibit! I found it to be beautifully curated and organized – the masterworks, many on loan from near and far, are represented chronologically with excellent and insightful biographical/background information.
I have watched many webinars and read a lot about Caravaggio. He is undoubtedly an intriguing and enigmatic figure with a “bad boy” reputation. His life reads like a self-destructive melodrama, to say the least. Then when you look at his paintings, all of that intensity is there and yet there is a profound sensitivity… it is extraordinary.
Top: Saint John the Baptist
Lower: The Musicians
Provocative, poignant, passionate, beautiful – you are drawn into the drama of the moment…you become a witness, a bystander (and so is he as he includes himself in many of the works). Your full attention is demanded and, for me, strong reactions are elicited- emotional and visceral. I was left speechless…
Top: Caravaggio as witness…
Lower: Martyrdom of Saint Ursula
Caravaggio…enigmatic, mysterious, and fascinating. The opportunity to immerse in his genius; the intimate details, the expressions, the nuances – breathtaking. He didn’t look away and neither can we…
Top: Martha and Mary Magdalene
Lower: Saint Catherine of Alexandra
I have created “collages” of some of the works to share his extraordinary genius…brilliance with you – absolutely spectacular…senza parole, no words…
♦ What You Should Know:
Caravaggio 2025
Palazzo Barberini
March 7 to July 6, 2025
How to Book Tickets (Audio guide is included with your admission):
Official Site: https://caravaggio2025.barberinicorsini.org/
Your ticket does NOT include entrance to the rest of the Palazzo Barberini Collection but you can get an additional ticket for only 7 euros.
This is being heralded as a blockbuster exhibition – book your tickets as soon as possible!
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Let’s Plan YOUR Next Trip to the Eternal City and MORE!
It’s the perfect time to plan for fall and even 2026!
