Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi, Rome
In the core of the Eternal City, between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Navona, the main architectural highlight of the Italian capital Palazzo Braschi towers above others. Within the building Museum of Rome dated from 1952 has its seat. Various works of art, such as paintings, sketches, engravings, illustrations and many more, can be found inside. The museum itself was established in 1930 by Antonio Munoz, an Italian art critic. At the time it was located in a former pasta factory called “Pantanella” on Bocca della Verita.
The history of Palazzo Braschi
In 1790, just where a destroyed 16th-century palace used to be, the future palace had started its construction. The building was supposed to belong to the duke Luigi Braschi Onesti, who was the nephew of Pope Pius VI. Eventually, the Braschi palace ended up being the last of the papal family’s fanciest mansions. When Pope died in 1816, the construction had not been completed, and the responsibility had been passed to the Braschi family’s heirs. The building was sold to the government, where it set The Ministry of the Interior.
Even more colorful events take place in the rest of the history. During the fascist regime, Benito Mussolini had his headquarters situated inside the palace. After the war, it was a home for many refugees. During the years 1949 to 1952, after many destructions and heists, the building was thoroughly renovated. Nowadays the halls of Palazzo Braschi are filled with collections of paintings, which allow us to see the history of Rome from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Palazzo’s elegance
It’s hard indeed to put into words, how classy and elegant Palazzo Braschi is. The monumental staircase made of red granite with its 18 columns and brought from the gallery of Emperor Caligula alone is enough to describe the fanciness of the place. The mythological sculptures and stuccoes by Luigi Acquisti can impress anyone. The chapel by the architect Giuseppe Valadier is just as remarkable. The cornice of the museum is decorated with the stars and the lilies – they refer to Braschi coat of arms. The main entrance faces the San Pantaleo street.
The exhibits of Palazzo Braschi
There are over 100 priceless exhibits in Museum of Rome; these include paintings, sculptures, engravings, clothes, furniture, ceramics and partially preserved frescos. All of them are the artworks of famous painters and sculptors, such as Antonio Canova, Pompeo Batoni, Felice Giani, Bartolomeo Pinelli, Joshua Reynolds, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Ippolito Caffi, Pietro Labruzzi, Giuseppe Bottani and others.
The most interesting canvases are portrait series of a young man. He is dressed in different outfits on every painting, for instance, in the Swiss Guard uniform, in a cupid attire and even in a female one. The pictures of Rome will catch your eye too as every small piece, and every event is depicted in detail. The museum also has a collection of Francesco Mochi’s sculptures and a great photo archive of 19th and 20th centuries. Temporary exhibitions and cultural events are frequent here.
Fun fact
Inside the Braschi palace stands one of the most ancient Roman statues, which was considered “talking” one. This figure named “Pasquino” dates back from the 2nd century BC. At the time such statues used to express the attitude of ordinary citizens to authority. In the middle ages, it got a small plank at its foot for anonymous lampoons.
How to get
The place is easily accessible by public transport from any point of the city thanks to its prime location in the center of Rome. You can get there from the bus station if you take the bus №64 to the bus stop "Vittorio Emanuele."
Working hours. The Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi is open every day, except for Monday. Public holidays: December 25, January 1 and May 1. Working hours: from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. The ticket costs around 11 euros. English audioguide is available for 3,50 euros.
