Palazzo Farnese
Mannerist palace in Caprarola designed by Vignola, with a pentagonal plan, a circular courtyard, frescoes and gardens.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola was built between 1559 and 1575 for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, on the foundations of an earlier fortress. The design is by Jacopo Barozzi, known as Vignola, who combined the features of a fortress, a palace and a villa.
The building has a pentagonal plan, a circular central courtyard and a spiral staircase, and it is decorated with frescoes by Mannerist painters, including the Zuccari brothers. The Sala del Mappamondo (Hall of the World Map) is particularly famous. Behind the palace are two gardens designed by Vignola and a woodland retreat with fountains and a small villa, once the summer residence of President Luigi Einaudi.
The Farnese family kept the complex until their line became extinct. In 1731 it passed to the Bourbons of Naples, and in 1941 it was bought by the Italian state.
Highlights
- Pentagonal plan and circular courtyard by Vignola
- Monumental spiral staircase
- Sala del Mappamondo and Mannerist frescoes
- Gardens and woodland with fountains
Permanent exhibition
- Palazzo, Sala del Mappamondo e giardini – Visit to the frescoed rooms of the Mannerist palace and to the gardens designed by Vignola.
- Operated by
- Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Lazio
- Visitors per year
- approx. 93,013
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2citizens of the European Union aged 18 to 24 |
| Groups | –Groups of up to 35 people plus the guide; headsets are recommended, and mandatory for groups of more than 25 people. |
| Palace only (when the park is closed) | €8 |
Individual visitors do not need to book.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The official listing contains no specific information on accessibility.
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
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Electronic ticketing is available through the app “Musei Italiani”. |
