A Lesson in Beauty: Bernini and Borromini at Palazzo Barberini

A Lesson in Beauty: Bernini and Borromini at Palazzo Barberini

The final session of the Passeggiate Romane, organized by Cinema Farnese Arthouse, focused on Baroque architecture in Rome and the celebrated rivalry between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. The meeting took place at Palazzo Barberini, home to the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica.

Curated by architect Luca Berretta, the talk examined Carlo Maderno's design for the palace, highlighting how the building introduced new forms of urban openness and monumentality — notably the elegant ground-floor loggia — which made it a representative example of the period.

• Organiser: Cinema Farnese Arthouse
• Curator: Luca Berretta
• Venue: Palazzo Barberini, Rome (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica)
• Speakers: Adriana Sartogo, Paolo Glisenti, Maddalena Crippa, Livia Azzariti, Roberta Calandra, Paola Nicita

Paola Nicita recounted aspects of the galleries' daily work, while other participants framed the palace as a symbol of the Barberini family's power, promoted by the cardinal who commissioned it.

The meeting was experienced as a special cultural moment, attracting a committed and sizable audience. Due to strong interest, the series will resume next October, starting earlier than the previous edition.

Practical tip: the programme combines historical-artistic insight with public discussion; check the organiser's website for times and participation details before planning a visit.