Palazzo Barberini: Bernini & the Barberini Exhibition Ticket
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USD 19.59
Step inside the very palace where one of art history's most extraordinary partnerships was forged — Bernini and the Barberini is a landmark exhibition at Palazzo Barberini, dedicated to the creative and political alliance between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his greatest patron, Pope Urban VIII. Organised across six themed sections with rare international loans, this is one of the most significant Baroque art exhibitions Rome has hosted in years — and your combined ticket also includes full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection and Galleria Corsini within 20 days.
Key Highlights
- Explore the extraordinary creative alliance between Bernini and Pope Urban VIII across six meticulously curated exhibition sections at Palazzo Barberini
- Discover rare and internationally loaned works — including pieces rarely shown publicly — tracing Bernini's artistic evolution from prodigy to the defining genius of Baroque Rome
- Visit the exhibition in the very rooms of the Barberini family palace where the partnership was lived, celebrated, and immortalised
- Enjoy full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection — including Raphael's La Fornarina, Caravaggio's Judith Beheading Holofernes, and Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII
About Palazzo Barberini: Bernini & the Barberini Exhibition Ticket
Following the extraordinary success of Caravaggio 2025, Palazzo Barberini presents its next major cultural event — Bernini and the Barberini — a landmark exhibition running from February 12 to June 14, 2026, and timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the greatest artistic achievements of the Baroque period and a project in which Bernini left a defining and irreversible mark.
Curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, the exhibition explores the relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini — the most influential sculptor and architect of the Italian Baroque — and Maffeo Barberini, who became Pope Urban VIII in 1623 and served as Bernini's most important, most generous, and most personally devoted patron for over two decades. The exhibition is organised into six thematic sections, each dedicated to a distinct aspect of the partnership — from Bernini's early career and first Barberini commissions through the great papal projects of the Urban VIII pontificate, the Baldachin of St. Peter's, the sculptural portraits of Urban VIII himself, the Barberini family's role as shapers of a new cosmopolitan Baroque taste, and the artistic legacy of the relationship that outlasted the pontificate.
Rare international loans join works from the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection, including pieces seldom shown publicly and sculptures and drawings that illuminate the depth of Bernini's creative process across a career that spanned portraiture, religious sculpture, architecture, and theatrical spectacle. The exhibition is produced with the support of the Barberini Foundation and presented in the very building that was designed partly by Bernini himself, making the experience of walking through the exhibition an unusually direct encounter with the subject at its heart. Your combined ticket also includes full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection — Raphael's La Fornarina, Caravaggio, Holbein, Tintoretto, and Pietro da Cortona's magnificent ceiling fresco — and access to Galleria Corsini valid within 20 days of first use. Book your Palazzo Barberini Bernini and the Barberini Exhibition ticket now on Thrillark and save up to 14%.
Curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, the exhibition explores the relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini — the most influential sculptor and architect of the Italian Baroque — and Maffeo Barberini, who became Pope Urban VIII in 1623 and served as Bernini's most important, most generous, and most personally devoted patron for over two decades. The exhibition is organised into six thematic sections, each dedicated to a distinct aspect of the partnership — from Bernini's early career and first Barberini commissions through the great papal projects of the Urban VIII pontificate, the Baldachin of St. Peter's, the sculptural portraits of Urban VIII himself, the Barberini family's role as shapers of a new cosmopolitan Baroque taste, and the artistic legacy of the relationship that outlasted the pontificate.
Rare international loans join works from the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection, including pieces seldom shown publicly and sculptures and drawings that illuminate the depth of Bernini's creative process across a career that spanned portraiture, religious sculpture, architecture, and theatrical spectacle. The exhibition is produced with the support of the Barberini Foundation and presented in the very building that was designed partly by Bernini himself, making the experience of walking through the exhibition an unusually direct encounter with the subject at its heart. Your combined ticket also includes full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection — Raphael's La Fornarina, Caravaggio, Holbein, Tintoretto, and Pietro da Cortona's magnificent ceiling fresco — and access to Galleria Corsini valid within 20 days of first use. Book your Palazzo Barberini Bernini and the Barberini Exhibition ticket now on Thrillark and save up to 14%.
Inclusions
- Timed entry to the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition at Palazzo Barberini — all six sections
- Full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection — all open rooms
- Access to the Barberini secret garden — free, open year-round
Exclusions
- Personal expenses
- Transport
Insiders' Tips
Book as early as possible — the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition follows Caravaggio 2025, which sold out weeks in advance, and demand for timed slots will be high. Visit the exhibition rooms first before the permanent collection to make the most of your timed entry window. Allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours in total for a comfortable visit covering both the exhibition and the permanent galleries.
Additional Information
Operating Hours
- 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Children below 18 years old can enter free of charge.
- Visitors with disabilities and one companion can enter free of charge.
- A named ticket and original ID must be presented at the entrance.
- Wheelchair accessible throughout via lifts and ramps
- Cloakroom, bookshop, and cafe available on site
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are non refundable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition at Palazzo Barberini?
Bernini and the Barberini is a major temporary exhibition at Palazzo Barberini running from February 12 to June 14, 2026, exploring the extraordinary creative and political relationship between sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his most important patron, Maffeo Barberini, who became Pope Urban VIII in 1623. Organised into six thematic sections with rare international loans, it is the most significant Baroque art exhibition in Rome since Caravaggio 2025 and takes place in the very palace that Bernini himself helped design.
Why is the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition significant?
The exhibition coincides with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica in 1626 — one of the greatest Baroque projects in history and one in which Bernini's contribution was decisive and defining. It also brings together rare works and international loans seldom shown publicly, providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to understand the full scope of Bernini's early career and the Barberini family's extraordinary role in shaping the visual identity of Baroque Rome.
What are the six sections of the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition?
The six sections trace the arc of the Bernini and Barberini relationship from different angles — covering Bernini's early career and first Barberini commissions, the great papal projects of the Urban VIII pontificate including the Baldachin at St. Peter's, the sculptural portraits of the pope, the Barberini family's role as promoters of a new cosmopolitan Baroque taste, the broader artistic circle around the family, and the lasting legacy of the partnership. Each section brings together paintings, sculptures, drawings, and archival materials that together tell one of the most compelling stories in the history of art patronage.
Is the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection included with the exhibition ticket?
Yes, the combined exhibition ticket includes full access to the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection — over 1,000 works spanning the 13th to 18th centuries including Raphael's La Fornarina, Caravaggio's Judith Beheading Holofernes and Narcissus, Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII, and Pietro da Cortona's extraordinary ceiling fresco. Access to Galleria Corsini is also included within 20 days of first use.
Who were Bernini and Pope Urban VIII and why does their relationship matter?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was the most influential sculptor and architect of the Italian Baroque, responsible for the Baldachin of St. Peter's, the colonnades of St. Peter's Square, the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, and dozens of the most celebrated sculptures in Western art. Maffeo Barberini became Pope Urban VIII in 1623 and immediately made Bernini his court artist, providing him with almost unlimited resources and ambition — a partnership that shaped the physical appearance of Rome more profoundly than any other in the city's history.
Are there rare or international loan works in the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition?
Yes, the exhibition features rare international loans including works seldom or never previously shown publicly, alongside pieces from the Palazzo Barberini permanent collection. The combination of loans with the permanent collection and the extraordinary setting of the Barberini Palace itself makes this one of the most complete and contextually rich Bernini exhibitions ever staged anywhere in the world.
How long should I spend at the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition?
Allow approximately 1 to 1.5 hours for the exhibition itself across the six sections, plus an additional 1 to 1.5 hours for the permanent collection and a visit to the Barberini secret garden. A total of 2.5 to 3 hours is the recommended minimum for a comfortable and unhurried combined visit to the exhibition and permanent galleries.
Is the Barberini secret garden included with the exhibition ticket?
Yes, the Barberini secret garden — a beautifully restored formal garden within the palace grounds — is free to access and open year-round for all visitors regardless of ticket type. It provides a peaceful and architecturally beautiful outdoor space for a rest between the exhibition and the permanent collection galleries.
When does the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition end?
The Bernini and the Barberini exhibition runs until June 14, 2026 — tickets cannot be used after this date. Booking as early as possible is strongly recommended, as demand is expected to be high following the sell-out success of Caravaggio 2025 in the same venue, and timed entry slots are limited on weekends and popular dates.
Do I need to book the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition tickets in advance?
Yes, booking is essential — timed entry slots are limited, the exhibition follows the sold-out success of Caravaggio 2025, and weekend and morning slots in particular will fill up weeks ahead of time. Booking through Thrillark saves up to 14% on the standard rate with instant confirmation, free cancellation up to the day before your visit, and your timed entry slot secured before you travel to Rome.
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