Guided Tours of the Quirinale: Price, Booking, and Information

Since June 23, 2015, the Quirinale, symbol of the Italian State and official residence of the President of the Republic, has opened its doors to citizens and tourists. This initiative transformed the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome from a “power” building into a place accessible to the public, offering a unique opportunity to explore art and history at the Quirinale.

Before 2015, visits to the Quirinale were limited to a small free area. Today, visitors can access a significant part of this historic complex, including the Quirinale gardens, the carriage museum, the stables, and the rooms housing the precious Savoy porcelains. The tour also includes entry to the Pauline Chapel, the Corazzieri Hall, the Banquet Hall, the Hercules Room, and the gallery of Alessandro VII.

Guided tours of the Quirinale are available in two routes, offering visitors the flexibility to choose between a shorter or more in-depth experience:

1. FIRST ROUTE: artistic and institutional (duration about 1 hour and 20 minutes)
2. SECOND ROUTE: artistic, institutional, and thematic (duration about 2 hours and 30 minutes)

The second route, in addition to including everything present in the first, also offers access to the Vasella, the Quirinale Gardens, and the Carriages.

FIRST QUIRINAL TOUR

Noble Floor

The tour begins with the Honor Staircase and continues through a series of magnificent rooms, including the Antechamber of the Ballroom, the Gallery of Busts, the Corazzieri Hall, and many others. Visitors can admire the interiors of the Quirinal, rich in artworks and historic furnishings, bearing witness to the long history of the palace as a papal, royal, and presidential residence. In particular: Honor Staircase, Antechamber of the Ballroom, Gallery of Busts, Seasons Room, Corazzieri Hall, view of the Pauline Chapel, First Representation Room, Virtues Room, Flood Room, Loggias Room, Bussolanti Room, Balcony Room, San Giovanni Small Sitting Room, Yellow Room, Augustus Room, Ambassadors Room, Hercules Room, Chests Room, Urban VIII Passage, Drusus Room, President’s Study, Lille Tapestries Room, Napoleonic Small Sitting Room, view of the Piffetti Library, Bronzino Room, Honor Loggia, Bees Room, Ladies Room, Victory Room, Peace Room, Music Room, Zodiac Room, Paul V’s Factories Room, Tapestries Room, Mirrors Room, Ballroom.

Ground Floor

On the ground floor, visitors can explore an exhibition about the history of the Quirinal Palace, which tells its past as a residence of the Popes, the Savoys, and the Presidents of the Republic. This section includes the Popes’ Room, the King’s Study, and a room dedicated to the Presidents of the Republic, where the Italian Constitution is displayed alongside historic documents and photographs. Finally, the Globe Room, with an exhibition of historical-institutional objects and documents.

SECOND ITINERARY QUIRINALE

The second itinerary offers a more comprehensive experience, including everything that is present in the first itinerary plus some additional areas.

Noble Floor

Grand Honor Staircase, Antechamber of the Ballroom, Gallery of Busts, Hall of the Seasons, Armourers’ Hall, view of the Pauline Chapel, First Representative Hall, Hall of Virtues, Hall of the Flood, Hall of the Loggias, Hall of the Bussolanti, Balcony Hall, San Giovanni Sitting Room, Yellow Room, Augustus Room, Ambassadors’ Hall, Hercules Hall, Caskets Room, Urbano VIII Passage, Drusus Room, President’s Study, Lille Tapestry Room, Napoleonic Sitting Room, view of the Piffetti Library, Bronzino Hall, Honor Loggia, Hall of the Bees, Ladies’ Hall, Hall of Victory, Hall of Peace, Music Hall, Zodiac Room, Paolo V’s Workshops Room, Tapestry Room, Hall of Mirrors, Ballroom.

The Vasella

This section displays a vast collection of tableware, porcelain, candelabra, and kitchen utensils, including valuable pieces by Richard Ginori, Meissen, and Sèvres, as well as oriental porcelains that belonged to the Savoy.

Quirinale visit: other points of interest

The Quirinale Gardens

The garden tour includes the Grove with the Rustic Fountain, the complex of Ippolito d’Este’s Turret, the Fountain of the Bathers, and the Coffee House, offering a glimpse of the green spaces of this historic palace.

Carriages

The Carriage Museum displays four Grand Gala carriages dating from the period between 1789 and 1819, as well as a gallery of carriages used until 1939. The Historical Cabinet shows harnesses offered by various monarchs to the Savoy and some decorations from Napoleon’s Carriage, King of Italy.
(To access the Carriages exhibition space, you must climb an external staircase consisting of about 80 steps which must also be descended on return).

Ground Floor

Exhibition on the history of the Palace, as residence of the Popes, the Savoy, and the Presidents of the Republic; Popes’ Hall; King’s Study; Room adjacent to the King’s Study, with exhibition on the Savoy and the Albertine Statute; Room dedicated to the Presidents of the Republic, with an exhibition of the Italian Constitution, historical documents, photographs and projection of short films; Globe Room, with exhibition of historical-institutional objects and documents. In case of rain, the visit might not include crossing the Gardens.

How much does it cost to visit the Quirinale

• The first route is free, with a mandatory reservation costing 1.50 euros.
• The second route costs 20 euros, including the reservation service. Various discounts and free admissions are available for students, teachers, seniors over 65, and people with disabilities.

It is free for students and teachers of schools organizing visits; for those under 18 years of age; for students and teachers of the faculties of Architecture, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Education Sciences, and Degree Courses in Literature or literary subjects, with an archaeological or historical-artistic focus, of the Faculties of Letters and Philosophy, and of the Fine Arts Academies, upon presentation of a current Academic Year enrollment certificate; for people with disabilities and their companions, except for the reservation fee.

For visitors aged between 18 and 25 and over 65, and for teachers of state schools, the cost of route 2 is € 5.

How to book a visit to the Quirinale

Reservations can be made through:

• Call center: tel. 06 39.96.75.57 (Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
• INFOPOINT: Information and reservations center, Salita di Montecavallo 15, Rome
• Quirinale Online Reservations

It is necessary to book at least 5 days before the date of the visit. Visits are organized for groups of up to 30 people, with access every twenty minutes.

It is important to know that the entry shifts accompanied by volunteers duly trained by the Quirinale staff will be respected, so booking is mandatory. Reservation is required at least 5 days before the date of the visit. Visits are organized for a maximum of 30 people, with access every twenty minutes. The ticket is nominative and bound to a date and time. In case of delay with respect to the scheduled visit time, access to the Palace will no longer be possible. The date and time of the visit cannot be changed and the ticket is non-refundable.

On the occasion of institutional events, both Routes may undergo changes and/or reductions. In case of bad weather, the Route 2 (Artistic-institutional and thematic) may be modified due to the inaccessibility of some outdoor areas. In these cases, no refund, not even partial, of the entrance ticket is provided.

Booked visits may also be canceled due to unforeseen institutional commitments. In such case, it will be possible to make the visit on another date or obtain a refund of the amount paid. Unsold entrance tickets can be purchased up to one hour before the start time of the visit at the INFOPOINT, still paying the reservation fee.

The visit is accompanied by volunteer staff. For this purpose, agreements have been made with “Sapienza – University of Rome”, the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, the University of Rome Tre, and the Italian Touring Club.

The visit to the Quirinale Palace does not include access to ongoing exhibitions, except those set up within the visit paths. The visit is in Italian. Visitors must present themselves 15 minutes before the start of the visit, with a valid identification document. If the personal data of the names provided at the time of booking do not match the data on the documents, access will be denied.
Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

School Visits to the Quirinal Palace

Visit requests from schools must be sent directly to the Quirinal Palace, via PEC at the address: protocollo.centrale@pec.quirinale.it, or by fax to 0646993125, and alternatively by ordinary mail to the address “Secretariat General of the Presidency of the Republic – Administration Service – Via del Quirinale, 00187 Rome.”

Requests can be sent starting from July 1st and will be processed in order of arrival, until availability is exhausted. Visits are organized for a maximum of two class groups plus teachers, up to 60 participants, for each school and are conducted by specialized personnel of the Quirinal Palace, are completely free of charge, and take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Only the first route is reserved for school visits.

Quirinale Opening Hours

The Quirinale Palace is open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The last entry for route 1 is at 2:30 PM, while for route 2 it is at 1:30 PM.

Quirinale Visiting Days

Visits are possible on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The palace is closed on certain specific dates throughout the year, including holidays and for institutional commitments. The Palace is closed: March 8, April 21, May 1, from May 23 to June 3, from July 29 to September 2, from December 23 to January 6, 2020.

Entrance: Via del Quirinale at the height of Via della Consulta – 00187 Rome.

Information for Visiting the Quirinale: What to Know

Security Checks

Upon entry, every visitor will undergo the necessary security checks. It is not allowed to bring bulky or potentially dangerous items, nor to take photographs or video recordings.

Upon entry, every visitor will undergo the necessary security checks. Not allowed:

• bringing suitcases, trolleys, bags, backpacks, plastic or glass bottles, cans, umbrellas, sharp, pointed, or blunt objects;
• taking photographs or video recordings;
• using amplification devices or radio transmission;
• leaving the designated paths;
• touching furniture and artworks;
• smoking (including electronic cigarettes).

Animals are not allowed. It is necessary to follow the general instructions shown on the signage.

Access Procedures for People with Disabilities

The Quirinale Palace is equipped to welcome visitors with disabilities. It is advisable to report any specific needs at the time of booking to ensure appropriate assistance.

Art and History at the Quirinal

The Quirinal, besides being the residence of the President of the Italian Republic, is a true museum of art and history. Its rooms host works by renowned artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and contain precious collections that tell the history of Italy. The architecture of the palace, the work of architects like Domenico Fontana and Ferdinando Fuga, is itself a masterpiece that testifies to the evolution of Italian art over the centuries.

The Manica Lunga, a wing of the palace designed by Ottaviano Mascherino, houses one of the most important art collections of the Quirinal. The Scuderie Sabaude, now converted into exhibition spaces, regularly offer exhibitions at the Quirinal that further enrich the cultural offerings of this extraordinary complex.

Visiting the Quirinal means immersing oneself in a journey through Italian art, history, and culture, inside what is not only a royal palace in Rome but also the beating heart of the Italian Republic. Guided tours of the Quirinal offer a unique opportunity to explore this invaluable cultural heritage, allowing visitors to admire the interiors of the Quirinal and to understand the central role that this palace has had and continues to have in the history of Italy.