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 has 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 porcelain of the Savoia family. The tour also includes entry to the Paolina 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, besides including everything in the first, also offers access to the Vasella, the Quirinale Gardens, and the Carriages.

FIRST QUIRINAL ROUTE

Noble Floor

The tour begins with the Honor Staircase and continues through a series of magnificent rooms, including the Antechamber of the Ballroom, the Bust Gallery, the Armorers’ Hall, and many more. Visitors can admire the interiors of the Quirinal, rich in artworks and historic furnishings, testifying to the long history of the palace as a papal, royal, and presidential residence. In particular: Honor Staircase, Antechamber of the Ballroom, Bust Gallery, Hall of the Seasons, Armorers’ Hall, overlooking the Pauline Chapel, First Reception Room, Hall of Virtues, Hall of the Flood, Hall of the Loggias, Hall of the Guides, Balcony Room, San Giovanni Sitting Room, Yellow Room, Augustus Room, Ambassadors’ Hall, Hercules Room, Caskets Room, Passageway of Urban VIII, Drusus Room, President’s Study, Lille Tapestry Room, Napoleonic Sitting Room, overlooking the Piffetti Library, Bronzino Room, Honor Loggia, Bees Room, Ladies Room, Victory Room, Peace Room, Music Room, Zodiac Room, Paolo V Workshop Room, Tapestry Room, Mirrors Room, Ballroom.

Ground Floor

On the ground floor, visitors can explore an exhibition on the history of the Quirinal Palace, which tells of its past as the residence of the Popes, the Savoy family, 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 along with historical documents and photographs. Finally, the Globe Room, with an exhibition of historical-institutional objects and documents.

SECOND ROUTE QUIRINALE

The second route offers a more complete experience, including everything present in the first route plus some additional areas.

Main Floor

Grand Staircase of Honor, Antechamber of the Ballroom, Gallery of Busts, Hall of Seasons, Hall of the Cuirassiers, overlook to the Pauline Chapel, First Representative Room, Hall of Virtues, Hall of the Flood, Hall of the Loggias, Hall of the Door Closers, Balcony Hall, San Giovanni Small Lounge, Yellow Room, Augustus Room, Ambassadors’ Room, Hercules Room, Chests Room, Passage of Urban VIII, Drusus Room, President’s Study, Lille Tapestries Room, Napoleonic Small Lounge, overlook to the Piffetti Library, Bronzino Room, Hall of Honor Loggia, Hall of the Bees, Hall of the Ladies, Hall of Victory, Hall of Peace, Music Room, Zodiac Room, Hall of Paolo V’s Factories, Tapestries Room, Mirrors Room, Ballroom.

The Vasella

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

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 Little Tower, the Fountain of the Bathers, and the Coffee House, offering a glimpse into 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 up to 1939. The Historical Cabinet shows tack offered by various sovereigns to the Savoys and some decorations from Napoleon’s Carriage, King of Italy.
(To access the carriage exhibition space, you must climb an external staircase of about 80 steps, which must be descended again on the return).

Ground Floor

Exhibition on the history of the Palace, as residence of the Popes, the Savoys, and the Presidents of the Republic; Hall of the Popes; King’s Study; Room adjacent to the King’s Study, with an exhibition on the Savoys 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 an 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 tour is free, with a mandatory reservation costing 1.50 euros.
• The second tour costs 20 euros, including the reservation service. Various discounts and free entries are available for students, teachers, over 65s, and people with disabilities.

It is free for pupils and teachers of schools organizing the visits; for those under 18 years of age; for students and teachers of the faculties of Architecture, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Educational Sciences, and Degree Courses in Literature or literary subjects, with an archaeological or historical-artistic orientation, of the Faculties of Letters and Philosophy and the Academies of Fine Arts, upon presentation of the enrollment certificate for the current Academic Year; for differently-abled individuals 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 tour 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 entry shifts accompanied by volunteers properly trained by Quirinale staff will be respected, therefore 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 nominal and tied to a date and time. In case of delay compared to the scheduled time for the visit, access to the Palace will no longer be possible. The date and time of the visit cannot be modified 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, moreover, Route 2 (Artistic-institutional and thematic) may undergo changes 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 cases, it will be possible to reschedule 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 current exhibitions, except those set up along the visit routes. The visit is in Italian. Visitors must present themselves 15 minutes before the start of the visit, carrying 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 not be allowed.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

School Visits to the Quirinale

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

Applications may be submitted starting from July 1st and will be processed in the order received, until availability is exhausted. Visits are organized for up to two class groups plus teachers, up to 60 participants per school, and are conducted by specialized personnel of the Quirinale Palace. They are completely free 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 entrance for route 1 is at 2:30 PM, while for route 2 it is at 1:30 PM.

Quirinale Visit Opening Days

Visits are possible on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The palace is closed on certain specific dates throughout the year, including holiday periods 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

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

At the entrance, every visitor will undergo the necessary security checks. It is not allowed to:

• bring suitcases, trolleys, bags, backpacks, plastic or glass bottles, cans, umbrellas, sharp, cutting or blunt objects;
• take photographs or make videos;
• use amplification devices or radio transmission;
• leave the indicated paths;
• touch furniture and artworks;
• smoke (including electronic cigarettes).

Animals are not allowed. It is necessary to respect the general indications shown on the signage.

Access methods for people with disabilities

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

Art and History at the Quirinale

The Quirinale, besides being the residence of the President of the Italian Republic, is a true museum of art and history. Its rooms house works by renowned artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and contain precious collections that tell the story of Italy. The architecture of the palace, the work of architects such as 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 Quirinale. The Scuderie Sabaude, now converted into exhibition spaces, regularly offer exhibitions at the Quirinale that further enrich the cultural offering of this extraordinary complex.

Visiting the Quirinale means immersing yourself 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 Quirinale offer a unique opportunity to explore this invaluable cultural heritage, allowing visitors to admire the interiors of the Quirinale and understand the central role this palace has had and continues to have in the history of Italy.