In the heart of Rome, at number 31 Piazza di Spagna, lies a place that Giorgio de Chirico loved to describe—with irony and pride—as the “center of the center of the world.” After a lifetime of traveling throughout Europe and a significant stay in New York, the father of metaphysical painting chose this 17th-century Palazzetto dei Borgognoni to settle permanently in 1948. Here, in a charming three-story apartment, he lived and worked for the last thirty years of his life alongside his wife, Isabella.
De Chirico’s Home
Today, those same spaces house an evocative house-museum that allows visitors to tiptoe into the Master’s daily life. Crossing the threshold of this residence means embarking on a journey into the artist’s imagination. The main floor was conceived as a sumptuous livable gallery, where 1950s furnishings blend with grand 17th-century-style salons and warm red damask curtains. It is a vibrant space, once bustling with receptions, where today you can stroll among masterpieces spanning from the 1940s to his final “Neometaphysical” phase, accompanied by the silent bronze, gold, and silver sculptures that fill the rooms.
As you climb the stairs, the atmosphere becomes more intimate. You enter the sleeping quarters and, most importantly, the artist’s private studio. It is undoubtedly the most evocative room in the entire house: bathed in natural light streaming through a large skylight, the studio still seems inhabited. The easel, palette, paints, and brushes are there, untouched, surrounded by plaster casts of ancient gladiators and his precious personal library, rich in art books. The top floor opens onto a spacious terrace where de Chirico loved to retreat to contemplate the view of Rome’s rooftops.
How to Plan Your Visit
To preserve the intimacy of the place, access is permitted only through guided tours for small groups (maximum 15 people at a time). The house-museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, as well as on the last Sunday of the month. Tours are held in the morning (11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.) and in the afternoon (2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.). It is strongly recommended to book in advance on the Foundation’s website.
Full-price admission is 15 euros, but reduced-price tickets are available for 12 euros (for those over 67, children under 16, students up to age 25, and people with disabilities), and admission is free for children under 11 and specific groups such as ICOM cardholders.
