A local’s guide to the most beautiful, famous and secret palaces in Rome, from hidden Palazzo Mattei to the grandeur of Casino Nobile at Villa Torlonia!
Beyond the Vatican and other Roman landmarks like the Coliseum and the Capitoline Museums, Rome is home to many secret corners.
And these hide grand palaces, magical gardens, and lots of unmissable sights you wouldn’t necessarily expect at first.
Near Via del Corso, for instance, are to be found some of the city’s most beautiful interiors, like Palazzo Doria Pamphilj or Palazzo Venezia.
All gold and frescoes, all columns, all spacious rooms and endless dreaming.
However, for those who would like to discover other palaces in Rome, I’ve decided to share with you some of my favorite, now turned, for some, into completely free museums.
Isn’t Rome an open-air museum, after all?
For some, like the Palazzo Altemps or the Casino Nobile, an entry fee will be asked when you arrive.
The beauty of these palaces, though, can already be admired from outside.
However, if you’re down to visit some of the most striking rooms in the city, rest assured that any entry fee is very much worth it.
Beautiful Palaces in Rome: 6 Wonders You Just Can’t Miss
Today, we won’t be talking about the Palazzo Farnese or the gorgeous Palazzo Spada.
My goal here was to focus on some of the more secret palaces in Rome, those whose beauty you’d never suspect when walking around the gardens surrounding them.
Some, actually, like the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, close to the Laghetto dell’EUR (a must-visit if you’re visiting Rome in the spring!), are not even considered ‘palaces‘ in the strict sense of the term.
Anyhoo – if you’re looking for new, fresh hidden gems in Rome, these are places to have on your bucket list!
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, EUR
Also known as the Square Colosseum (Colosseo Quadrato), the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is hidden in the midst of the EUR neighborhood.
There, you’ll also find the aforementioned Laghetto dell’EUR with its artificial lake and Japanese passage.
Commissioned during the Fascist regime under Mussolini, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana follows rules of modernist architecture, symmetrical, geometric, with clean arches repeated all around the palace.
On top of the building, one sentence:
Un popolo di poeti, di artisti, di eroi, di santi, di pensatori, di scienziati, di navigatori, di trasmigratori
This phrase can be translated to:
“A people of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of navigators, of migrants”.
It’s echoed by the 28 marble statues on the ground floor, designed in 1937, which are but breathtaking allegories of Italian virtues and values.
Read: The Most Enchanting Gardens Near Rome
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Casino Nobile, Villa Torlonia
Every time I mentioned Villa Torlonia, just off Via Nomentana, one of the longest streets in Rome, I make it a point to tell you that there are more…
Way more hidden gems in Villa Torlonia than you’d initially expect.
It’s actually one of my favorite parks in Rome.
It has ruins at the back, a gorgeous fountain in the middle, and a fairytale house, the Casina delle Civette, another museum you can visit in conjunction with the Casino Nobile.
Designed by architect Valadier in the 19th century, the Casino Nobile became, in the 1920s, residence to Mussolini, who leased it from the noble Torlonia family.
The neoclassical architecture of the Casino Nobile, with its Corinthian columns and gorgeously-decorated rooms filled with frescoes and sculptures, make this place one of the most beautiful palaces in Rome.
If you would like to save a little bit on your ticket, you can get a 3-for-1 ticket for the Casino Nobile, the Casina delle Civette and the Serra Moresca.
All three are must-visit places inside Villa Torlonia and make for a culturally rich moment.
Read: First Time in Rome: How to Move, What to Miss, Where to Stay
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Palazzo Mattei, Near Largo Argentina
With Palazzo Mattei (Palazzo Mattei di Giove of its full name), we’re two steps away from the Largo di Torre Argentina and its ruins invaded by protected cats, and the historical Jewish Ghetto neighborhood.
And we’re also here in one of the most striking palaces in Rome, one tucked behind an imposing door, that offers a secret courtyard filled with Roman sculptures, busts, frescoes, and vaulted arches.
Designed at the end of the 16th century, Palazzo Mattei was one of the homes to the aristocratic Mattei family of Rome, and houses today the Center for American Studies and the Library of Modern and Contemporary History.
When you enter this incredible building, walk up the stairs and ring the bell just before the metal door.
Sometimes, the staff will allow you to enter the patio, for free, so you can admire the statues and the courtyard from above.
Read: Trastevere, Rome: 12 Hidden Corners of a Famous Neighborhood
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Palazzo Altemps
Palazzo Altemps is part of the National Roman Museum network, which includes the Cripta Balbi, Palazzo Massimo, and the Baths of Diocletian, both located close to Termini Station.
Not only is the palace one of the best places to see sculptures in Rome, but visiting it will also provide straight views on Piazza Navona, gorgeous when it is sunny.
Designed in the 15th century, Palazzo Altemps is probably one of the best places to enjoy Renaissance architecture in Rome.
And, if the collections of busts and extravagant interiors are already mind blowing, the palace also hides a very instagrammable courtyard.
If you’re one to use Pinterest or Instagram to prepare your trips, you might have seen the Palazzo Altemps courtyard at some point, along with the Loggia of Cardinal Altemps.
This frescoed pathway overlooking the courtyard, with its busts, plants and intricate paintings, make for one of the most magical places in Rome.
Don’t miss the grand staircase, though, especially if you’re into instagrammable places on top of historical sites.
Read: Villa Sciarra, Rome’s Historic Hidden Gem
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Palazzo Barberini
Palazzo Barberini is located on Via delle Quattro Fontane, one of Rome’s prettiest streets, in the middle of which you will, indeed, find four fountains at a crossroads.
Designed in the early 17th century, Palazzo Barberini is now home to the National Gallery of Ancient Art.
What’s there?
A huge collection of Renaissance and Baroque pieces that include works by Caravaggio (Judith Beheading Holofernes is one I spent long minutes admiring when I visited the palazzo).
Beyond the sculptures, rich interiors and paintings, there are other things to see at Palazzo Barberini.
Namely, the beautiful fountain in the entrance, the garden at the back, and the purely beautiful Francesco Borromini-designed helical staircase.
Read: Where to Stay in Rome (Without Losing Your Mind or Wallet)
Most Beautiful Palaces in Rome: Palazzo Braschi
Palazzo Braschi is located close to Palazzo Altemps we’ve seen earlier.
We’re close to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Navona, and also quite close to Via del Corso and Campo de’ Fiori if you’re like to also do some shopping after visiting museums.
Inside Palazzo Braschi, designed in the 18th century, is nestled the Museo di Roma, with paintings, sculptures, and artifacts galore showcasing the city’s history.
The staircase at Palazzo Braschi is already a striking sight, and you could spend hours trying to make sense of all the carved shapes, columns and sculptures.
In addition to these gorgeous sights, you’ll quickly find that Palazzo Braschi is one of the best places to admire painted ceilings in Rome.
Almost every room is adorned with frescoes and patterns dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, colorful and well-preserved.
It’s interesting to note that you will also find works by Antonio Canova at Palazzo Braschi.
If you’ve been here before, you may know that Canova used to have a workshop close to Via del Corso, now turned into a very instagrammable cafe, Canova Tadolini, still showcasing huge white sculptures around its tables.
By all means, if all of these are palaces in Rome that should be visited, maybe, all in all, Palazzo Braschi should be first on your bucket list.
It’s filled with hidden gems, corners, and maximalist decor that you would never suspect from the outside.
Read: The Best Things to Do in Rome At Night
Beautiful Palaces in Rome: 6 Wonders You Just Can’t Miss
These are but some of my favorite palaces in Rome; those I will spend some time at whenever I am nearby and want to get a taste of history, culture, and, let’s admit it, a feel of the posh life.
Splendor, prestige, artistic grandeur – that’s what you’ll feel around each and every one of these secret, and not so secret places.
They’ll take you to famous, beautiful neighborhoods like that surrounding Piazza Navona, and more local, more secret neighborhoods like the EUR area.
In any case, if you’re planning on visiting Rome and are looking for something a bit off the beaten path, these make for unforgettable moments 🙂
First Time in Rome
- Living in Rome: True Roman Symbols No Blog Talks About
- 3 Days in Rome: A Walkable Itinerary Beyond the Obvious
- How to Use Rome’s Public Transport
- First Time in Rome? The Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Rome
Other Rome Travel
- Testaccio, Rome: The Best Hidden Gems and Street Art
- The Most Magical Parks & Gardens in Rome
- The Best Places to Visit in Rome for Sculptures
- The Most Magical Gardens Near Rome
- The Best Beaches Near Rome
- The Best Day Trips from Rome
- The Most Instagrammable Places in Rome
- The Best Cafes to Work in Rome
- The Best Coworking Spaces in Rome
- The Best Digital Nomad Accommodation in Rome
- The Best Things To Do During Spring in Rome
- The Most Instagrammable Cafes in Rome
- The Best Vegan Restaurants in Rome
- The Best Halal Restaurants in Rome
- The Best Bakeries in Rome
- The Best Breakfast in Rome
- The Best Ice Cream Shops in Rome
- Gello Termini, Rome’s Best Gelateria
- Porta Portese Market, Rome’s Best Flea Market
- The Most Unique Shops in Rome