I love to sneak a peek into Rome’s palazzi. While I regularly take the time to explore the palazzi open to the public, most of Rome’s gorgeous buildings are in private hands.
Cortili Aperti (open courtyards) is the once a year chance to step through the gates of these private palaces.
When we stopped at Palazzo Pasolini Dall’Onda, we were able to visit the Galleria Lorcan O’Neill.
Passing through the courtyard, we watched a woman restore centuries-old painting before popping into have a glass of wine at a temporary photography exhibit.
We ogled the courtyard at Palazzo Capponi Antonelli before visiting the Galleria Giacometti that can be found hidden within its walls.
A few flights of stairs granted us a view of the courtyard from above.
Wandering through the city center, we stopped by the Brazilian Embassy, before continuing on to Palazzo del Drago.
The Drago family spent centuries (from the 1500s to the 1800s) buying up adjacent buildings.
They united the buildings with a single facade, but inside is the mishmash of styles and heights.
Of course the details can’t be overlooked.
If you were thinking of having a quiet day in Rome- get out instead.
In 2019, Cortili Aperti is taking place on 18 and 19 May. Most of the palazzi are open from 10 am until 7 pm. There are 27 private cortili that will be open to the public, and you can visit each and every one of them for free.
ADSI has a full list of cortili aperti, and the best thing to do is save that map to make them all easier to find. However, they include:
Convento Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni – Piazza S. Salvatore in Lauro, 15 Sabato 10:00/19:00 e Domenica 10:00/12:00
Palazzo Avila – Via del Governo Vecchio, 14 Sabato ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Berardi Guglielmi – Via del Gesù, 62 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Boncompagni Cerasi – Via del Babuino, 51 Sabato ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Caetani – Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 32 Sabato ore 10:00/18:00
Palazzo Capponi Antonelli – Via di Monserrato, 34 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Cenci – Piazza dè Cenci, 56 Sabato ore 11:00/19:00
Palazzo Cisterna – Via Giulia, 163 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo d’Aste – Via di Monserrato, 149 Sabato ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo del Drago – Via dei Coronari, 44 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo del Gallo – Piazza Farnese, 44 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo della Valle e visita Sala Serpieri – Corso V. Emanuele II, 101 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Gomez Silj – Via della Croce, 78/A Sabato ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Grazioli – Via del Plebiscito, 102 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Malvezzi Campeggi – Via del Consolato, 6 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Massimo Lancellotti – Piazza Navona, 114 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Montoro – Via di Montoro, 8 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Odescalchi – Piazza Santi Apostoli, 80 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Pamphilj Ambasciata del Brasile – Piazza Navona, 14 Sabato ore 11:00/16:00
Palazzo Pasolini dall’Onda – Piazza Cairoli, 6 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Sacchetti – Via Giulia, 66 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Sforza Cesarini – Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 284 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Sterbini – Via del Banco di Santo Spirito, 30 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Palazzo Taverna – Via di Monte Giordano, 36 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/17:00
Palazzo Torlonia – Via Bocca di Leone, 78 Sabato e Domenica ore 10:00/19:00
Scuderie di Palazzo Ruspoli – Via di Fontanella Borghese, 56/B Sabato e Domenica ore 11:00/18:00
I had no idea that this was going on – I stumbled upon it by accident on Sunday, and explored a few courtyards until I was defeated by hayfever…It’s a shame it only happens once a year!
boo for the hay fever! but glad you discovered some of the cortili!
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