Full-Day Rome Art Tour with Borghese Gallery, Palazzo Barberini, and Skip-the-Line Tickets

Your comprehensive art exploration of Rome
From US$968 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
6 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Palazzo Barberini
  • Palazzo Colonna
  • Borghese Gallery
Photos & Highlights
  • A comprehensive view into the artistic side of Rome for first-time or returning visitors
  • Led by a PhD or MA-level historian
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Tour Description
Interested in a full-day art immersion in Rome? We’ve drafted the ideal itinerary for those looking for a deep dive into Rome’s artistic side through three Italian noble families and their collections. In the company of an art historian, we'll spend our time unpacking two of Rome’s finest collections in architecturally awe-inspiring buildings: the Barberini Palace and the Borghese Gallery. This tour is the perfect art introduction to the Eternal City, allowing for an exploration of the connection between art, society, and politics in 17th-century Rome.

Please Note: the Borghese announced the closure of the second floor for an exhibition initiative at Palazzo Barberini, while there may be some paintings unavailable to view during your visit, your expert will adapt the itinerary accordingly to include additional stops that further enrich your Borghese tour experience during this period. From this period of 29 March to 14 July 2024, Palazzo Barberini entrance will be reduced for those in possession of a Galleria Borghese ticket, entry to see the exhibition works is € 5.00. You'll be able to use your ticket for a reduced rate to explore the exhibition independently.
  • Borghese Gallery
  • Palazzo Barberini
  • Includes viewings of the Apollo and Daphne, Sacred and Profane Love, and The Rape of Proserpina
  • 6 hours with a Ph.D. or MA-level historian
  • Entrance tickets to venues
    •  Please Note: Our team will pre-purchase timed admission tickets on behalf of your party. However, due to enhanced COVID-19 safety precautions at this venue, there will be a mandatory security line that we must wait in together. 
We’ll begin at the Barberini Gallery. Home to one of Rome’s most powerful families, the Palazzo Barberini houses masterpieces such as Rafael's La Fornarina as well as impressive staircases. Our resident art historian will shed light on the importance of what we are seeing, the stories behind the imagery, and place these artworks into historical context.  After a morning well spent in this majestic art gallery, we’ll take a break for lunch at a local dining establishment. We may even pop in to see works of art in situ at churches and palaces on our route.

Fueled by Italian food, we’ll head to our last stop, perhaps the most famous private art collection in Italy: the Borghese Gallery. Originally built as a suburban villa on the outskirts of the city, this gallery showcases a significant portion of Cardinal Borghese’s art selection, including masterpieces by Raphael, Titian, Bernini, and Caravaggio. In around two hours, we’ll cover the most important works and explore the relationships between art, society, and politics in 17th-century Rome.

At the end of our full-day art itinerary, we will emerge with a deeper understanding of two powerful Roman noble families and the art collections they amassed. Over the course of the day, we will develop a better understanding of not only the art the collections contain but the intricacies and politics of art collecting during the Baroque period.  

What is a private tour?
Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

Are tickets included?
Yes. Context will take care of the necessary reservation in advance. You will pay for the tickets upon your booking and your guide will collect them for you at the entrance of the galleries on the day of the walk. Please note: The Bernini staircase in the Palazzo Barberini and the Stanislaus Koska area at Sant' Andrea are currently closed due to restoration activities.

What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.  
 
Can I take photos inside the galleries?
Yes. You may use a camera or a phone camera but you may not use a flash to take photos.
Where You'll Start
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