Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is one of our favourite places to visit in the city.
The entrance is on Via del Corso but from the moment you step into the citrus filled courtyard you are transported to the realms of tranquility.
The audio guide is included in the admission fee (€12) and is narrated by Jonathan Pamphilj, a member of the aristocratic family that still own and live in the palace today.
The guide gives a personal view of living in such palatial splendour with such asides as "my sister and I got into trouble for rollerskating here (the ballroom) on more than one occasion"
There is an option to go into more depth within each room with the audio guide should you choose.
On selected Saturday mornings you can opt to join a special tour of Music and Art from the time of Caravaggio (see here) It is a very special moment when you listen to music played on original baroque instruments that you see in the art works all around you.
However, of all our visits to this glorious palazzo our most recent, between Christmas and New Year was probably our favourite.
The sumptuous apartments were given extra sparkle with Christmas decorations.
Visiting at dusk meant that the Hall of Mirrors could be seen in all its illuminated glory.
This time we decided to concentrate on the private art collection arranged in the four wings of the palazzo that look into the internal courtyard. There are over 400 paintings so to avoid art overload we picked up the €1 guide from the bookshop and simply stopped to enjoy the works that caught our eye.
This way we 'discovered' the works of Maestro Jacomo
Of course we stopped to admire the work of Velazquez......
Bernini......
....and my favourite Caravaggio
When you are ready for a break Cafe Doria can be accessed from inside the palazzo but also has an entrance from outside.
Enjoy your refreshments under the watchful eye of a gilded dolphin tumbling from a marble fountain.
Whether you have 40 minutes or 4 hours you will surely find a visit to Palazzo Doria Pamphilj rewarding.
