The Bonaparte Family in Rome

Just steps from Piazza Navona, overlooking the Tiber inside Palazzo Primoli, sits a small, refined museum that many visitors miss entirely: the Napoleonic Museum (Museo Napoleonico). It guards a remarkable collection devoted to Napoleon and, above all, to the Bonaparte family, who kept strong ties to Rome. Portraits, busts, furnishings, jewellery and memorabilia tell a fascinating and little-known chapter of the city's past: Napoleonic and Bonaparte Rome, spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. And because it belongs to the Civic Museums (Musei Civici), admission is often free.

The Story of the Collection

The museum grew out of a donation from Count Giuseppe Primoli, a Bonaparte descendant on his mother's side, who gathered an extraordinary trove of family mementos within his palazzo. On his death he left both the collection and the building to the city of Rome. The result is an intimate house-museum that preserves the atmosphere of a 19th-century noble residence, its rooms furnished and filled with period pieces.

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What to See

  • Portraits and busts of Napoleon and the Bonapartes.
  • Memorabilia tied to Pauline Bonaparte Borghese, Letizia Ramolino and Lucien Bonaparte.
  • Furnishings, jewellery, garments and objects from the Napoleonic era.
  • The palazzo's rooms, with all the atmosphere of a 19th-century residence.

We dig deeper in our guide to what to see at the Napoleonic Museum and in the article on the Bonapartes in Rome.

Admission, Hours and How to Get There

The museum is part of the Civic Museums (Musei Civici) and admission is often free. For hours and details see tickets and opening hours. To plan your trip, check how to get to the Napoleonic Museum.

In the Heart of Baroque Rome

The museum pairs perfectly with a stroll between Piazza Navona and the Tiber: see our guide to Piazza Navona. The connection to Pauline Borghese also points toward the Galleria Borghese, home to Canova's celebrated statue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rome's Napoleonic Museum? A civic museum inside Palazzo Primoli, near Piazza Navona, dedicated to Napoleon and the Bonaparte family, with portraits, memorabilia and period furnishings. Admission is often free.

Why are the Bonapartes connected to Rome? Several family members (his mother Letizia, Pauline, Lucien) settled in Rome after Napoleon's fall; the collection stems from the donation of their descendant, Count Primoli.

Is there an admission fee? As part of the Civic Museums (Musei Civici), it is often free to enter (a separate ticket may apply for temporary exhibitions). Check hours and conditions on the official site.

Where is it located? Inside Palazzo Primoli, on the Lungotevere near Piazza Navona, right in the heart of Rome's historic center.

Is it worth it? Yes, especially if you love history and period interiors: an intimate, rarely crowded museum and a real hidden gem in central Rome.

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Article #594 · Category: Museums · Updated: May 2026