Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
palace was built for Cardinal Ricci da Montepulciano in 1540, but Ferdinando dei Medici
bought it in 1576. It remained in Medici hands until 1801, when Napoleon acquired it and
gave it to the French Academy. There are regular tours of the landscaped
gardens
, and the
villa often hosts art exhibitions.
TOP SIGHT
GALLERIA COLONNA
The only part of
Palazzo Colonna
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open to the public, this thrillingly opulent gallery
houses the Colonna family's small but stunning private art collection. The polished yellow columns represent the
'Colonna' (which also means column) of the family name.
The purpose-built gallery (constructed by Antonio del Grande from 1654 to 1665) has six rooms crowned by
fantastical ceiling frescoes, all dedicated to Marcantonio Colonna, the family's greatest ancestor, who defeated
the Turks at the naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Works by Giovanni Coli and Filippo Gherardi in the Great Hall,
Sebastiano Ricci in the Landscapes Room and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari in the Throne Room all commemor-
ate his efforts. Note also the cannonball lodged in the gallery's marble stairs, a vivid reminder of the 1849 siege
of Rome.
The art on display features a fine array of 16th- to 18th-century paintings, the highlight of which is Annibale
Carracci's vivid
Mangiafagioli
(The Beaneater).
From January 2013, the palace opened three additional rooms to the public: the Yellow, Tapestry, and Embroid-
ery rooms.
DON'T MISS…
»
Fantastic ceiling frescoes
»
Annibale Carracci's
Mangiafagioli
PRACTICALITIES
»
MAP
»
06 678 43 50
»
Via della Pilotta 17
