Palazzo Altemps is one of the four sites of the Museo Nazionale Romano, in Piazza di Sant’Apollinare near Piazza Navona. Its Greek and Roman sculptures sit inside a Renaissance palace, where marble figures share rooms with frescoed ceilings, a courtyard and a decorated loggia. Look for the Ludovisi Throne and the sculpture of a Gallic warrior with his wife. The calm setting gives you time to study the works and the building around them. A single pass covers this museum and the National Roman Museum’s three other sites.
A palace within the National Roman Museum
Palazzo Altemps is one of four separate locations belonging to the Museo Nazionale Romano. The other sites are Palazzo Massimo, the Baths of Diocletian and Crypta Balbi, each in a different part of Rome. Together, they house collections of classical antiquities.
The palace stands in Piazza di Sant’Apollinare, close to Piazza Navona. Built in the 15th century for Girolamo Riario, it later passed through the hands of Cardinal Soderini and Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps. Cardinal Altemps lived there from 1568 to 1595. The Altemps family remained connected to the property until the mid-19th century.
Sculptures collected by Rome’s noble families
The museum’s main focus is Greek and Roman sculpture. Many works were once part of collections assembled by Rome’s aristocratic families in the 16th and 17th centuries. Their display in the palace gives you a chance to look closely at both the ancient figures and the later settings in which collectors kept them.
Make time for the Ludovisi Throne and the sculpture showing a Gallic warrior killing himself and his wife. The Ludovisi collection also includes the Ludovisi Sarcophagus. Other works reflect the history of restoration: some ancient statues were completed by later sculptors. Bernini repaired an Ares, while Alessandro Algardi restored an Athena.
The museum also has Egyptian works associated with the Del Drago and Mattei family collections. Among them is a figure of the Bull of Apis, dated to the second century BCE. These objects offer another thread in the palace’s collections alongside its Greek and Roman sculpture.
Courtyard, loggia and frescoed rooms
The palace is part of the visit, not just a setting for the objects. Its central courtyard is arranged around a monumental fountain and decorated with statues. Rooms and ceilings carry frescoes and mosaics, while the frescoed loggia overlooks the courtyard. Look for the decorative grotesque style in the loggia, a Renaissance fashion inspired by ancient grotto decoration.
The building was altered over time as it passed between owners. After the Altemps family, the property was bequeathed to Giulio Hardouin in the mid-19th century. It later went to the Holy See and was assigned to the Pontifical Spanish College. The museum opened in the palace in 1997.
A pass for the Museo Nazionale Romano covers Palazzo Altemps and the institution’s three other locations. If you plan to see more than one site, check the current ticket information on the museum’s official website before you go.
FAQ
How long should I plan for Palazzo Altemps?
Allow about 90 minutes to see the palace and its collections.
Is Palazzo Altemps part of the National Roman Museum?
Yes. It is one of the four Museo Nazionale Romano sites, alongside Palazzo Massimo, the Baths of Diocletian and Crypta Balbi.
What should I look for inside Palazzo Altemps?
Highlights include the Ludovisi Throne, the sculpture of a Gallic warrior with his wife, the courtyard fountain and the frescoed loggia.
Is there a ticket that covers other museums too?
A Museo Nazionale Romano pass covers Palazzo Altemps and the institution’s three other sites. Check the official website for current ticket details.
