When the Bonaparte Family Lived in Rome

Few people know that, after the fall of Napoleone (Napoleon), Rome became one of the refuges of the Bonaparte family. Under the protection of the Pope, several members chose the city as their home, leaving behind a legacy of palaces, artworks and memories. This is the fascinating, little-known story the Museo Napoleonico (Napoleonic Museum) tells, through portraits and memorabilia of its protagonists — a surprising chapter of 19th-century Rome.

Letizia Ramolino, "Madame Mère"

The family matriarch, Letizia Ramolino, Napoleone's mother, spent the final decades of her life in Rome as a guest of the papal city. A strong, reserved woman, "Madame Mère" faced her son's changing fortunes with dignity, and her presence tied the Bonaparte family firmly to the Rome of the Restoration.

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Paolina Bonaparte Borghese

The most famous figure tied to Rome is Paolina Bonaparte (Pauline Bonaparte), Napoleone's sister, who married Prince Camillo Borghese to become Paolina Borghese (Pauline Borghese). Celebrated for her beauty and her free spirit, she was immortalised by the sculptor Antonio Canova in the famous statue of Venere vincitrice (Venus Victrix), now in the Galleria Borghese. Her bond with Rome is one of the most captivating in Napoleonic history.

Luciano Bonaparte and the Others

Napoleone's brother Luciano Bonaparte (Lucien Bonaparte) also had close ties to Rome, where he acquired titles and property. Other family members and descendants lived in or passed through the city, down to Count Giuseppe Primoli — a Bonaparte descendant — who gathered in his palace the memorabilia later donated to the city, giving rise to the museum.

Where to Relive This Story

The Museo Napoleonico is the perfect place to discover this chapter: portraits, busts, memorabilia and furnishings bring the Bonaparte family and their Rome to life. For the full visit, see the guide to the Museo Napoleonico and what to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Bonaparte family live in Rome? After the fall of Napoleone, under the protection of the Pope, several family members chose Rome as their home, leaving behind palaces, artworks and memories.

Who was Letizia Ramolino? Napoleone's mother, "Madame Mère", who spent the final decades of her life in Rome, tying the family to the papal city.

Who was Paolina Bonaparte Borghese? Napoleone's sister, married to Prince Camillo Borghese: celebrated for her beauty, she was immortalised by Canova in the statue of Venere vincitrice (Venus Victrix) at the Galleria Borghese.

Who was Giuseppe Primoli? A count and Bonaparte descendant who gathered his family's memorabilia in his palace and donated them to the city, giving rise to the Museo Napoleonico.

Where can you see these memories? At the Museo Napoleonico in Rome, in Palazzo Primoli near Piazza Navona, often with free admission.

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Article #598 · Category: Museums · Updated: May 2026