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How to Visit Palazzo Colonna: Rome’s Secret Palace
Danielle Strayer
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.
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.
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.
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.
Private guide
Full access to the Colonna Gallery, Isabelle Apartment, and Gardens
Insider stories about princesses, popes, and power plays
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.
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
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.
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.
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