The Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Venezia (Palazzo Venezia National Museum) in Rome is housed in the building of the same name. Its collection mainly consists of late medieval art.
A brief history of the Palazzo Venezia Museum in Rome
The Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia opened its doors in 1916. Since that time it has been Rome’s main museum for medieval and Renaissance art. The initial exhibition consisted of collections from other museums (The Kircher Museum, the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica and the art works displayed during the 1911 International Art Exhibition in the Castel Sant’Angelo).
Gradually the collection became bigger and weapons, medals and porcelain were added.
After World War I wooden sculptures and sacred jewelery found after an earthquake in Abruzzo (1915) became part of the collection. Later these objects were returned to Abruzzo itself.
The main addition to the National Museum of Palazzo Venezia occurred in 1933, when Henriette Tower and George Wurts donated their private art collection.
After World War II the collection continued growing. There are now 43 rooms with works of art of all kinds, including those the former collection or the now closed Museo Artistico Industriale.
Loggia delle Benedizioni
One of the highlights is the “Loggia of the Blessings” (Loggia delle Benedizioni), within the façade of the Basilica di San Marco. The loggia was directly connected to the private apartments of Pope Paul II Barbo, who had it constructed between 1466 and 1469. Spolia from the Colosseum and the Theater of Marcellus were among the building materials. The busts decorating the frieze depict St. Mark the Evangelist and the 4th century Pope Marco. The latter is buried inside the basilica.
The collection
The museum occupies almost the entire piano nobile. The collection includes paintings made between the 15th and 18th centuries, 18th century pastels, Italian and German sculpture, 16th and 17th century reliefs and marble works of art from the Middle Ages. There is also a large collection of ceramics, majolica and porcelain.
Highlights
There are a number of terracotta models Bernini made for his larger statues. These include models for the Fountain of the Triton and for the angels on the Ponte Sant’Angelo.
The ceiling of the fourth room is decorated with a beautiful zodiac motif.
The Sala del Mappamondo is important from a historical point of view because Mussolini had his office there. The room is named after a map of the world kept there in the 16th century.
The last rooms of the museum are dedicated to ceramics from all corners of the world.
The Barbo Apartment is used for temporary exhibitions.
Address, opening hours, admission
Address: Via del Plebiscito, 118 – Rome. Tel: +39 06 6780131 (information and bookings). District: Pigna. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 08.30 till 19.30 hours. Closed: Mondays, May 1, December 25. Online reservations: www.gebart.it. Admission: 5 Euros; EU citizens 18-25: 2,50 Euros; free for anybody below the age of 18; free for anybody on the first Sunday of the month. Museum passes: Roma Pass.
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