If you are in Rome on a Saturday, wake up early and head out, because Palazzo Colonna is only open on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. It’s a pleasant walk from the apartment, and is it worth the walk — indeed, the place is guaranteed to make you gasp.

The unbelievably lavish palazzo has been home to the noble Colonna family for eight centuries.  You’ll see their family crest — a standing column —  throughout the palazzo and, indeed, throughout Rome (the Spanish Steps Apartment is located in the Colonna Rione, or ward, so you’ll definitely see it in our neighborhood).

The older part of the palace was once home to the 15th Century Colonna pope, Martin V. The Baroque palace you see today dates back to the 1700’s, when the monumental gallery  was built to house the family’s amazing art collection.

 

 

 

 

The older wing of the complex, once housing Martin V’s library and palace, is now known as Princess Isabelle’s apartments, and contains beautiful frescoes and inlaid floors.  If you ever wanted to see what the good life looks like, this is it.  Actually, it just doesn’t get any better than this.