Bernini and the Barberini family - the soul of Baroque Rome

From 12 February to 14 June 2026, the splendid rooms of Palazzo Barberini in Rome will host the exhibition Bernini and the Barberinis, a major exhibition project dedicated to the extraordinary relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Maffeo Barberini — the future Pope Urban VIII and the artist's first patron.

Are you ready to discover it with us?

Bernini and the Barberinis — genius and patronage in the heart of the 17th century

Gian Lorenzo Bernini is universally recognised as one of the leading figures of Italian Baroque. A sculptor, architect and all-round artist, he revolutionised 17th-century artistic representation, translating the energy, movement and drama that characterise this great period in art history into visual form.

                                                                          Apollo and Daphne, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Rome

His relationship with Maffeo Barberini, cardinal and later Pope Urban VIII, was fundamental: Barberini not only discovered and supported him, but also accompanied him in the creation of works that would change the face of Rome and define the aesthetic language of the Baroque.

The exhibition - a unique opportunity in the heart of Rome

The exhibition Bernini and the Barberini is curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi and is conceived as a journey into the heart of the artistic, political and personal relationship between the artist and his patron, showing how this alliance contributed to the birth and spread of the Baroque. Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new St Peter's Basilica (1626), the exhibition highlights several key aspects of the collaboration between Bernini and the Barberini family, from Bernini's initial meeting with Cardinal Barberini to the major commissions that characterised the papacy of Urban VIII, projects that are now undisputed symbols of Roman Baroque. Particular attention is also given to works that are rarely exhibited together, including sculptures, drawings, models and paintings, many of which come from international collections and are being presented in Italy for the first time, such as the sculptural portraits of the Barberini family ancestors.

For more information click here. 

                                                           Beata Ludovica Alberoni, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Church of San Francesco a Ripa, Rome

Tickets and additional information

The exhibition, open from 10:00 to 18:00, is accessible at the following prices:

• OPEN - €20.00
• FULL PRICE - €16.00
• REDUCED (18-25 YEARS) - €10.00

To find out about other categories eligible for reductions, click here.

The Palazzo, located in Via delle Quattro Fontane, is easily accessible by bus, such as the 53, 61 or 160, or by metro line A, Barberini stop.

Don't miss this immersive experience in the Baroque!

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