Pietro Canonica Museum (Museo Pietro Canonica)

The Basics

Canonica was a sculptor and academic born near Turin in 1869. Much feted by the aristocracy in Italy and Europe for his fine sculptural portraits of royalty and nobility, he was given this small but sumptuous "fortezzuola" villa by the city of Rome, and lived there until his death in 1959. The artist's house is now a museum dedicated to his life and work; visit as part of a Villa Borghese bike or Segway tour that also includes the Galleria Borghese, the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre, the Bioparco zoo, and the Pincio Gardens.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The museum’s collection consists primarily of sculptures, but there are other eclectic things to see as well, including Canonica’s smock and beret.

• Large bags and backpacks are not allowed in the museum.

• The museum is partially accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

• Flash photography is not allowed inside the museum.

How to Get There

The museum is located on Viale Pietro Canonica in Villa Borghese park. The nearest metro station is Flaminio; the nearest bus stop is at Piazzale Brasile.

When to Get There

Because of its location in Villa Borghese park, the museum makes for a great stop on a nice day. It’s closed on Mondays.

The Pietro Canonica Museum Collection

Visitors can see original models for Canonica’s bronze and marble statues, as well as sketches and drawings, in the artist’s ground-floor studio. Upstairs, you can explore private apartments furnished with antiques, Flemish tapestries, and paintings by 19th- and 20th-century Italian artists such as Giovanni Battista Quadrone and Vittorio Cavalleri.

Ways to explore

With free entry and a convenient location right near the center of Villa Borghese, the Pietro Canonica Museum is easily added to sightseeing when visiting the park. The museum offers a guided tour service, available for a fee when arranged in advance. Regular sightseeing tours of Rome normally don’t include the museum in their itinerary, but take a private golf cart or bike tour of the city and you can easily plan for some time there, before or after a visit to the Borghese Gallery (which requires a timed ticket purchase in advance) or Temple of Aesculapius.

Accessibility

The museum is only partially accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, with access available to the ground floor of the building and certain other areas.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera, water bottle

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, layers, sun hat for the park

Not allowed

Large bags or backpacks, flash photography, commercial photography

Amenities

Bookshop, visitor desk

Address

The museum is located on Viale Pietro Canonica, deep within Villa Borghese park, north of the city center. Driving and public transportation can take you close, but you’ll need to walk through the park to reach it.

Driving

Viale Pietro Canonica is closed to public traffic, so it’s best to park at the Parcheggio Saba Roma Piazza di Spagna lot in the park and walk from there.

Public transportation

Take one of the many buses that head into Villa Borghese; the Victor Hugo/Museo Bilotti bus stop is closest to the museum. Another option is taking the A metro line to Flaminio on the park’s edge.

Best times to visit

From Tuesday to Sunday, the museum is generally open from 10am to 4pm, but stays open later on summer weekends; the last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Mornings are often the quietest time to visit.

Best days to visit

The museum is closed Mondays and the park gets busy over the weekend, so plan to visit between Tuesday and Friday if you can.

Best months to visit

Since you’ll also be exploring Villa Borghese when you visit the museum, it’s best to go in the shoulder months of April to June or October to November, when the park’s full of color and not too busy.

Special events

Check in advance to see if Villa Borghese is hosting any festivities, such as its Christmas World over the holidays. (Note that some events may affect access to the park, as well as parking availability.)