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How to Visit Palazzo Colonna: Rome’s Secret Palace

Danielle Strayer Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Home » How to Visit Palazzo Colonna: Rome’s Secret Palace

You won’t find this palace on most Rome itineraries, which is wild, considering it’s one of the oldest, grandest, and most lived-in noble homes in the city. But the doors to Palazzo Colonna only open for a few hours each week, and if you don’t plan ahead, you’ll miss out on baroque masterpieces, secret gardens, and the very room where a pope once ruled. Here’s how to visit Palazzo Colonna—and why you absolutely should.


Pro Tip: Want exclusive access and stories you won’t find on the plaques? Book our Private Tour of Palazzo Colonna.

Skip to What You Came Here For:

  • Getting to Palazzo Colonna
  • What’s Worth Seeing
  • Guided Tours
  • Tickets & Hours
  • Secret Tip

How to Get to Palazzo Colonna in Rome

Split palace entrances can throw you off. Use these directions to find the right door.

Where to find Palazzo Colonna in Rome
  • Walking: Under 10 minutes from Trevi Fountain or Piazza Venezia. If you’re headed there on a Saturday, go to Via della Pilotta, 17. On Fridays, it’s Piazza SS. Apostoli, 66.

  • Metro: The closest stop is Barberini (Line A), about a 12-minute walk.

  • Bus: Routes 60, 40, and 64 all stop nearby at Piazza Venezia or Via Nazionale.

  • Taxi: Tell the driver “Piazza Santi Apostoli, sessantasei” for Friday tours or “Via della Pilotta, diciassette” on Saturdays. Expect €8–€12 from most centro‑storico hotels.

Interessante Fact: During the 1849 Roman Republic siege, a French cannonball flew clear from the Janiculum and is still embedded in the staircase. Spot it on the short steps leading to the Great Hall.

What to See at Palazzo Colonna

Trust me, this isn’t the kind of place you duck into for a quick look. With 900 years of family history under one roof, these are the spots you absolutely don’t want to miss.

Great Gallery Room in Palazzo Colonna
  • Colonna Gallery: A 17th‑century Baroque ballroom lined with Tintoretto, Guercino, and Salvator Rosa—built to brag about Marcantonio II’s victory at Lepanto.

  • Hall of the Battle Column: Look for Bronzino’s sensual Venus, Cupid and a Satyr below a ceiling where Marcantonio meets the Virgin Mary.

  • Great Hall: Four painted mirrors by Mario dei Fiori sparkle under frescoes of clashing galleys.

  • Cannonball on the Steps: Fired by French troops in 1849 and never removed.

  • Princess Isabelle Apartments: Kept exactly as the Lebanese‑born princess left them, complete with a silent night clock lit by candle.

  • Gardens on the Quirinal Hill: Bridges by Alessandro Specchi connect palace to terraces with citrus pots and Roman sarcophagi. The view sweeps from Trajan’s Column to St Peter’s dome.

  • Pio Pavilion: Gobelins tapestries of Alexander the Great and a 1930s portrait of Princess Sveva with her dog Whisky.

Interessante Fact: The Great Hall of the Colonna Gallery was never meant to just display art—it was designed to impress ambassadors and celebrate military glory with architectural theater.


👉 Want someone to bring it all to life? Our Private Tour of Palazzo Colonna takes you deeper into these rooms and reveals stories most visitors never hear.

How to Visit Palazzo Colonna: Best Guided Tours

Private Palazzo Colonna Tour | 2 hrs | €€€

This isn’t your average walk-and-point tour. It’s a deep dive into one of Rome’s most powerful families and the jaw-dropping spaces they’ve preserved for over 900 years.

Guided tour of Palazzo Colonna
  • Private guide

  • Full access to the Colonna Gallery, Isabelle Apartment, and Gardens

  • Insider stories about princesses, popes, and power plays

  • Time to linger in the rooms you love most

👉 Secure your spot!

Tickets & Hours

Palazzo Colonna isn’t open daily. Check carefully and time your visit right.

  • Friday (Guided Only)

    • Entrance: Piazza SS. Apostoli, 66

    • Times: 9:30, 10:00, 10:30 AM

    • Languages: English, Italian, French

    • Ticket: €35 (€30 with FAI card)

  • Saturday (Self-Guided)

    • Entrance: Via della Pilotta, 17

    • Hours: 9:15 AM – 1:15 PM (last entry)

    • Short Itinerary: €15

    • Full Itinerary (includes Princess Isabelle Apartment): €25 (€20 with FAI card)

    • Audio guide: €5 (available in 9 languages)

Private Visits: Available by appointment

Interessante Fact: The rooms inside are still bound by a legal fidecommesso, meaning none of the artwork can ever be sold, removed, or separated from the palace.

👉 Skip the ticket confusion. Our Private Tour of Palazzo Colonna handles all the logistics for you.

What to Skip

There’s plenty to love here, but also a few things worth skipping.

  • Visiting on a Tuesday or Wednesday: It’ll be closed.

  • Buying a Saturday “short route” if you’re an art lover: You’ll miss the Princess Isabelle Apartments and Pio Pavilion.

  • Assuming everything is labeled: Some of the best pieces have no signage at all.

  • Showing up late on a Saturday: The last entry is strictly enforced.

Interessante Fact: The grand throne in the Throne Room was reserved for papal visits until 1870, when popes still visited the homes of aristocrats.

How to Visit Palazzo Colonna – Secret Tip

Last Supper Palazzo Colonna

When you reach the Hall of Landscapes, look for the ebony‑and‑ivory cabinet by the Steinhart brothers. Kneel to eye‑level with the center panel and you’ll find a miniature replica of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment—hand‑carved, no bigger than a postcard.


👉 Book your Private Tour of Palazzo Colonna to see it for yourself!

Where to Eat Near Palazzo Colonna

Skip the tourist traps near Trevi. These local-approved options are all within a 10-minute walk.

Photo courtesy of Ai Tre Scalini

Trattoria al Moro | €€€ | Old-School Roman
Beloved by locals for carbonara and Roman artichokes.

La Cabana | €€ | Cozy & Reliable
Great pasta, better prices, and a nice break from the crowds.

Pizzeria Florida | € | Roman Pizza al Taglio
Grab a quick square of thin, crispy pizza before or after your visit.

Bar San Marcello | € | Caffeine & Cannoli
Charming little spot for a cappuccino and something sweet.


👉 Hungry for more local tips? Check our list of Great Restaurants Near Trevi Fountain.

Final Thoughts: How to Visit Palazzo Colonna

Most visitors to Rome never step foot inside Palazzo Colonna. And that’s a mistake. This isn’t just another grand house, it’s a 900-year-old love letter to power, family, and art. Whether you’re here for the cannonball, the Caravaggio connections, or the dazzling garden views, make time for this under-the-radar gem.

👉 Book your Private Palazzo Colonna Tour now and let our guides turn a beautiful palace into a story you’ll never forget.

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