In 1672, Pope Innocent XI founded a conservatory on Via di Ripetta for young women in need: 354 years later, its former church hosts Morricone’s soundtracks by candlelight, starting at €26.50

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Rachele Orsoni

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  October 30, 2026

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In Rome, it happens that a building changes its purpose without losing its history. On Via di Ripetta, what is now Palazzo Ripetta—a five-star hotel in the heart of the city center—began as a shelter for women in need. The church within the complex was added later, in the 18th century: today it is the Salone Bernini, and its vaulted ceilings provide the setting for an evening dedicated to Morricone’s soundtracks.

The Conservatory of Divine Providence was founded to take in women in need

In 1672, Pope Innocent XI founded the Conservatory of Divine Providence, entrusted to the Sisters of Saint Dorothy. Here, women without support were welcomed and could learn skills such as sewing and dressmaking—practical skills with which to build a future for themselves. A trace of that mission remains in the history of Palazzo Ripetta, which has been transformed over the centuries into the hotel we know today.

The 18th-century church is now the Salone Bernini

The church was built in 1728 at the behest of Pope Benedict XIII, based on a design by Marquis Gerolamo Theodoli. Inside, Giacomo Triga’s fresco *The Triumph of Divine Providence* still looks down upon the hall from above, next to the original bust of Innocent XI.

Today, this historic space is the Salone Bernini: an intimate setting where sacred architecture meets a new purpose for events and concerts.

Morricone’s music echoes amid the candlelight

This is where the Candlelight concert dedicated to Ennio Morricone and other soundtracks takes place. A string quartet performs melodies that have become part of the collective imagination: from “Gabriel’s Oboe” to “Once Upon a Time in the West,” all the way to “The Ecstasy of Gold.” The program also includes themes from “Life Is Beautiful,” “Amarcord,” and “The Godfather.” The music fills the hall for about an hour, bathed in the light of hundreds of candles.

The events take place at the Salone Bernini, located at Via di Ripetta 231. The upcoming dates currently on the calendar are October 31, November 8, and December 4 and 12; tickets start at 26.50 euros, with prices varying by section and availability.