May Day at Palazzo Merulana: exhibitions open and the Cerasi Collection

Palazzo Merulana open on May 1

On Friday 1 May 2026 Palazzo Merulana welcomes visitors to view its permanent collection and current temporary exhibitions. It is a convenient cultural option for those spending May Day in Rome, offering a route between 20th-century and contemporary art.

On display

• Nicola Pucci – a solo show part of the project "Scuola Italiana. La pittura contemporanea e il suo spirito circolare nel tempo storico": nineteen works where Pucci's New Magical Realism engages with 20th-century figurative traditions.
• Francesco Vaccarone in Rome 1970–1976 – exhibition focused on the artist's Roman years; the show is in its final days during the holiday.
• Cerasi Collection – continuously on view: featuring works by Giacomo Balla, Giorgio de Chirico, Mario Sironi, Antonio Donghi, Mario Mafai, Antonietta Raphaël and other key figures of Italian 20th-century art.

Practical information

Where: Palazzo Merulana, Via Merulana 121, Rome.

When: 1 May 2026 — Hours: 12:00–20:00 (last entry at 19:00).

Tickets: paid admission — check the museum website or the ticket office for current rates.

Getting there: Esquilino area, served by Metro Line A (Manzoni or Vittorio Emanuele stations); also within walking distance from Santa Maria Maggiore and the Colosseum.

Why visit

The mix of the historical collection and temporary shows offers a rounded visit, suitable for locals and visitors interested in connecting Italian 20th-century art with contemporary painting.