Before becoming one of the locations of the National Roman Museum, Palazzo Altemps was the setting for a love story straight out of a novel. It was here that Gabriele D’Annunzio married Maria Hardouin di Gallese, after their elopement to Florence became the talk of the town. Today, amid frescoed rooms and ancient sculptures, the palace preserves traces of both its past lives: as an aristocratic residence and as a museum.
4 November 2026 10:30 + more dates
Touristation Office Navona
From a cardinal’s residence to the home of D’Annunzio’s in-laws
Amid the streets of the historic center, just a short walk from Piazza Navona, the original core of the palace dates back to the 15th century; in 1568, it was purchased by Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps, who transformed it into his residence and enriched it with elegant decorations and a collection of antiquities.
In the mid-19th century, the palace passed to the Hardouin family. On July 28, 1883, in the Chapel of Sant’Aniceto, Gabriele D’Annunzio married Maria, daughter of Duke Giulio, one month after their elopement to Florence—an attempt to escape her father’s opposition.
In 1982, the Italian government began the process of acquiring the building. After restoration, the museum opened to the public in 1997, and the transfer of ownership was completed in 2006.
The private chapel and masterpieces of Palazzo Altemps
The tour winds through the courtyard, decorated rooms, staircases, and corridors. The sculptures are displayed alongside the frescoes and architectural elements, just as they were in the ancient noble collections: not merely works to be admired, but testaments to the taste of those who collected them.
Among the masterpieces housed at Palazzo Altemps are the *Galata Suicida*, a sculptural group from the Boncompagni Ludovisi collection, and the *Ludovisi Throne*, a Greek original from the 5th century B.C. The rooms also feature works from the Altemps, Mattei, and Del Drago collections, as well as artifacts from the Egyptian collection.
Hours, prices, and useful information
📅 Dates: Tuesday through Sunday
🕒 Hours: 2:00 PM to 7:45 PM 📍
Meeting point: Touristation, Piazza Navona 25
👤 Age requirement: open to all
