Hidden among the historic alleys of Rome, just a few steps from Piazza Navona, lies one of the most fascinating and least known places in the Eternal City: Palazzo Altemps. Once an aristocratic residence, it is a place where the history of collecting intertwines with the elegance of classical art.

Built in the 15th century at the behest of Girolamo Riario, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, the palace was a symbol of Renaissance power.
After the fall of the Riario family, the building became the seat of the Spanish ambassadors until, in 1568, it was purchased by Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps, nephew of Pope Pius IV. Of Austrian origin, a refined patron and passionate collector, the cardinal transformed the palace into a veritable art residence, filling it with ancient sculptures and precious works.
Palazzo Altemps is also a treasure trove of more intimate and surprising memories. It was here that the first Accademia dell’Arcadia was founded, Mozart played, and Metastasio recited. In addition, on the main floor is the chapel of Sant’Aniceto, where Gabriele D’Annunzio and Maria Hardouin, heiress of the family that purchased the palace in the 19th century, were married.

This special tour will take you on a journey of discovery through this extraordinary place: a journey through noble collections and timeless masterpieces, through Renaissance courtyards and decorated rooms. The tour takes place on two floors; among the masterpieces are the Torso of Polyphemus and the Statue of Hercules, which have belonged to the Altemps collection since the 16th century, alongside works from later periods, such as the famous Aphrodite of Cnidus, the Ludovisi Throne and the Ludovisi Ares, the latter made even more precious by its ancient restoration attributed to a very young Gian Lorenzo Bernini.