Casino dell'Aurora Pallavicini
Baroque casino on the Quirinal, with the central hall frescoed by Guido Reni with the Aurora (1613–1614), open to visitors on the first day of the month.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Casino dell’Aurora was part of the vast complex of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and a refined patron, on the Quirinal hill. It was built by the Fleming Jan van Santen, known in Italy as Giovanni Vasanzio, to host summer banquets and concerts, and is a jewel of Roman Baroque. Today it belongs to the Pallavicini family and is part of the Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi.
The casino owes its name and fame to Guido Reni’s fresco of the Aurora, painted between 1613 and 1614 on the vault of the central hall and considered a peak of European painting. The painter conceived it as a “quadro riportato” (a painting set into an architectural frame): Aurora, scattering flowers, precedes the chariot of the Sun driven by Apollo, surrounded by the Hours, with Phosphorus, the morning star. As early as the 17th century, visitors were advised to view it in a mirror.
The hall is also decorated with frescoes by Paul Bril showing the Four Seasons, lunettes by Cherubino Alberti and works by Antonio Tempesta. Only the central hall of the casino is open to the public; on private visits by request, the two side rooms can also be seen.
Highlights
- Aurora by Guido Reni (1613–1614)
- Frescoes of the Four Seasons by Paul Bril
- Triumphs by Antonio Tempesta
- Lunettes with putti by Cherubino Alberti
Permanent exhibition
- Sala centrale con l'Aurora di Guido Reni – Hall frescoed by Guido Reni with the Aurora, decorated with the Four Seasons by Paul Bril and the Triumphs by Antonio Tempesta.
- Operated by
- Holding Immobiliare Pallavicini S.p.A.
- Visitors per year
- approx. 988
Admission & discounts
Free admission: First day of each month (except January)
Free admission on public opening days. Private visits on request are on terms to be agreed with the owner; a specialist guide, including in foreign languages, is available for a fee on request.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
The casino also hosts a conference centre in a historic residence.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Private one-hour visits for groups of at least 20 people must be requested with 15–18 days’ notice; in this case the two side rooms can also be visited. |
