Palazzo Colonna: Tickets, Hours, and Visitor Insights

Palazzo Colonna is a stunningly preserved Roman palace, rich in art and history. A must-see for lovers of culture—book your tickets online to guarantee entry.

Palazzo Colonna, one of Rome’s most magnificent Baroque palaces, has been home to the Colonna family for over 20 generations.

With its grand halls, stunning architecture, and an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, and furniture from the 14th to 18th centuries, this palace offers you a rare peek into Roman history.

Still privately owned, it occasionally opens its doors for exclusive tours and events, giving you a glimpse into the lavish lives of Roman nobility.

This article shares everything you must know before booking Palazzo Colonna tickets.

Top Tickets

# Palazzo Colonna tickets

It’s highly recommended to book your Palazzo Colonna tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key takeaways

You can book tickets online or at the venue, but online tickets are cheaper, quicker, and guarantee you a spot at your preferred time

The basic entry to the gallery costs €21, while a full experience, including the gallery, Princess Isabelle’s Apartment, and the gardens, costs €31

Palazzo Colonna is only open on Saturdays, from 9.30 am to 1.15 pm, so it’s best to arrive early to make the most of your visit

The palace features stunning Baroque architecture, artwork by Carracci and Bronzino, and beautiful frescoes. You can also explore the lavish Princess Isabelle’s Apartment and the scenic Colonna Gardens

While you can take non-flash photos in some areas, flash photography and video recording are prohibited to preserve the palace’s art and environment

Open-air museum?
Yes, Palazzo Colonna is home to the Villegiardini, an open-air museum that brings art and history into the beauty of its gardens.

What’s ahead

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book Colonna Palace tickets online or at the venue, but buying them at the attraction may involve long wait times, especially during peak hours. Online tickets help you skip the queue, are often cheaper, and allow you to choose a preferred time slot in advance. Booking online also ensures availability and prevents last-minute sell-outs. After the purchase, tickets are emailed to you. You can swap your smartphone’s e-voucher for a paper ticket at the info point next to the ticket office and walk into the palace.

Palazzo Colonna tickets

Palazzo Colonna ticketsPin
Image: TripAdvisor.com

With this ticket, you’ll step into the heart of Rome and explore the luxurious Palazzo Colonna.

Your visit includes access to the stunning Colonna Gallery, the beautiful gardens, and, if selected, the lavish Princess Isabelle’s Apartment.

As you stroll through the palace, bask in the panoramic glory of the Hall of Landscapes, adorned with Gaspard Dughet’s rural masterpieces and majestic marble columns.

Don’t miss the Hall of the Apotheosis of Martin V, featuring a breathtaking ceiling canvas by Benedetto Luti.

You’ll also get to admire the chapel, showcasing originals by Paolo Farinati, and the Tapestry Room, filled with intricate designs from the early 1600s.

The tour lasts around two hours and is available in English, Italian, and French.

Plus, Italian police officers, official guides, and carers of disabled visitors can enjoy free entry with a valid ID.

Ticket Prices

Adult (12+ years): €21 (Only Gallery)
Adult (12+ years): €31 (Gallery + Apartment + Gardens)
Child (up to 12 years): Free (not more than 2 per paying adult)
Italian Police: Free 
Official Guides: Free 
Carers of Disabled Visitors: Free 

Buy This Ticket

Buy the Roma Pass and visit one or two of Rome’s top attractions with access to public transport. Pick either a 48-hour pass or a 72-hour pass and get direct entry into the famous gems of Rome. 


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Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Colonna Palace.

Does the Palace offer free tickets?

Children up to 12 years and younger (no more than two per paying adult) can enter the attraction for free. Carers of disabled visitors, Italian Police, and official guides can also walk in for free upon presentation of valid ID proof.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket counter. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.

Do we need to print online tickets?

Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Palazzo Colonna’s entrance. If you have the tickets on your phone, swap your smartphone voucher for a paper ticket at the info point next to the ticket office.

What is the Palace’s arrival time?

When you book your tickets, you must visit between 9.30 am to 1.15 pm. Arrive well in advance of your preferred timeslot, keeping in mind the time for a thorough security check before entry.

What is the Palace’s late arrival policy?

Non-guided tour entry to the attraction after 1.15 pm will not be allowed under any circumstances.

Does Palazzo Colonna offer any discounts for locals, students, or military personnel?

Yes, Palazzo Colonna offers discounts for children up to 12 years old (up to two per paying adult), carers of disabled visitors, Italian Police, and official guides with valid IDs. However, there are no dedicated discounts for students or military personnel. Children under 17 can enter for free.

Does the Rome Tourist Card include access to the attraction?

The Roma Pass has not yet included the Palace in its go-to sightseeing list.

What is the Galleria Colonna’s refund policy?

The attraction allows refunds if you select a refundable ticket during checkout and cancel until 11.59 pm the day before you visit.

How to reschedule the Palace’s ticket?

The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.

What is the Palace’s rain policy?

The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.

Are there any restrictions on photography inside Palazzo Colonna?

Flash photography and video recordings are not allowed inside the Palace to preserve the artworks and the historic environment. However, non-flash photography might be permitted in some areas.

Does the Colonna family still own the Palace?

Yes, it is still owned by the Colonna family. However, certain palace sections are occasionally open to the public for tours, cultural events, and exhibitions.

Fun Facts
The Colonna Gallery’s opulent interiors were featured in the final scene of the classic film “Roman Holiday,” starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

Don’t Miss

  • Uncover the Basilica of San Giovanni, Rome’s oldest basilica, with its stunning mosaics, Holy Stairs, and towering statues of the Apostles.
  • Visit Castel Sant’Angelo to explore ancient papal chambers, frescoes, and breathtaking views from its terrace.

Palace timings

Colonna Palazzo opens only on Saturdays from 9.30 am to 1.15 pm.

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Image: touristfirst.blogspot.com

It takes 2 hours to see the artifacts, paintings, jewelry, and other great pieces of artwork.

However, if you visit the bookshop, you may need some more time.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Palacio Colonna is early in the morning as soon as it opens at 9 am. 

It will be less crowded, and you can conveniently explore the gallery and gardens.

Since the museum is open only on Saturdays, arrive early and maximize the opportunity.

Palazzo Colonna was a family fortress and became the Pontifical Seat when Oddone Colonna became Pope Martin V in 1417. During his stay, he planned Rome’s rebirth. There’s even a Room of the Throne with a chair facing the wall, which was only turned around when he was ready to sit!

Major highlights of the attraction

Here are some major highlights that you don’t want to miss during your visit to Palazzo Colonna.

Galleria Colonna

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Image: GalleriaColonna.it

The Galleria Colonna, a true gem of the Roman Baroque, was built by Cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna in the middle of the 1600s. 

Philip II, the son of Lorenzo Onofrio, inaugurated it in 1700. 

Antonio del Grande initially designed the concept, and in the final decade of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor, and Carlo Fontana combined it. 

The Gallery was designed as a big stateroom to commemorate the Christian fleet’s triumph over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. 

The vault of the Great Hall of the Gallery contains various representations of Marcantonio II Colonna, commander of the papal fleet.

We suggest you walk around freely in this beautiful space amongst the paintings, sculptures, and precious furnishings that have been the heart of the family art collections bound by the fidecommesso (a trust) since 1800. 

The artworks are inextricably tied to the palace’s walls and may not be alienated nor divided, which is the best way to guarantee their preservation over time.

Colonna Garden 

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Image: ItalyMagazine.com

The extensive garden that visitors see from the Gallery Bridge owes its present-day aspect to numerous interventions carried out by the Colonna family from the 13th century onwards.

In the Middle Ages, the slopes of Quirinal Hill had considerable strategic importance. 

When the Colonnas built their first dwellings, they fortified the area between Palazzo Colonna and the garden itself.

In antiquity, the entire zone was characterized by the monumental remains of a glorious temple dating to the 3rd century AD.

The temples are the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of Serapis, and, from more recent studies, the Temple of Septimius Severus, dedicated to Hercules and Dionysus.

Magnolia trees, small box-tree hedges, and large Italian-style hedges composed of laurel, pittosporum, ilex, box tree, vases of pittosporum, succulents, and box trees line the path.

Princess Isabelle’s Apartment 

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Image: GalleriaColonna.it

The Colonna Princess keeps Princess Isabelle’s old apartment exactly as it was when she was alive.

The same cozy ambiance, meticulous attention to detail, and care were taken to retain the family portraits adjacent to the well-known collection of 37 Vanvitelli views in the flat. 

This room, which lay on the palace’s ground floor, was constructed on top of the ruins of the ancient Temple of Serapis and contains other valued possessions.

A crocodile in porphyry is one of the few traces of the Roman sanctuary. 

It welcomes visitors at the beginning of the room sequence, where famous artists, such as Pinturicchio, Pomarancio, and Cavalier Tempesta, left their mark.

The apartment floor, in “Venetian” style, is partially ancient, with the original foundation visible only in the hall of the fountain.

In all the other rooms, the Princess replaced the traditional covering with shiny oriental marble, perhaps inspired by her Lebanese origins.

How to reach

Palazzo Colonna is located at the base of the Quirinal Hill and adjacent to the Basilica of the Holy Apostles.

Address: Via della Pilotta, 17, 00187 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions 

The most convenient way to reach the attraction is by bus, subway, and car.

By Bus

P.Za Venezia is the nearest bus stop to the palace, only 3 minutes walk away, with buses 40, 60, 64, 70, 170, H, n8, n11, n70, n98, and n716.

By Subway

Barberini is the nearest subway station, which is only 12 minutes walking distance.

By Car 

If you are traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started!

There are numerous parking garages around the gallery.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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