Art and Collecting in Rome

Rome returns as a capital of antiques

Art and Collecting in Rome is the fair dedicated to high-end antiques promoted by the Italian Antiquarians Association, the organization that brings together the country's leading historical galleries. The event was established in 2023 at Palazzo Brancaccio to restore a major industry event to the capital after a nearly twenty-year absence: a long-awaited return for merchants, scholars, and collectors, which has restored a world-class appointment to the City of Rome and the entire Lazio Region.

Palazzo Barberini, an exceptional venue

Since 2025, the exhibition has found a home at Palazzo Barberini, on Via delle Quattro Fontane, in the Trevi district just a few steps from Piazza Barberini. The 17th-century palace designed by Carlo Maderno, Borromini, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini houses the National Galleries of Ancient Art: hosting an art fair inside a state museum is a rare choice in Italy and constitutes one of the event's most distinctive features. The works for sale thus engage directly with the permanent collections, from the Caravaggio in the Gallery to the famous frescoed vault by Pietro da Cortona.

Galleries and works on display

The 2025 edition brought together 63 exhibitors among the most authoritative names in the Italian and international market — from Colnaghi to Gian Enzo Sperone, from Galleria Russo to Botticelli Antichità — compared to 45 in the first edition. Each stand is conceived as a showcase spanning the centuries, with a path that ranges from Roman archaeology to the avant-gardes of the 20th century.

• Antique paintings and 19th-century Italian works, featuring names like Francesco Hayez
• Sculpture, from the classical era to Antonio Canova, up to Medardo Rosso and Arnaldo Pomodoro
• Decorative arts: furniture, silverware, ceramics, textiles, and high-quality craftsmanship
• Modern and contemporary art, from Giacomo Balla to Dan Flavin

All works undergo a quality and authenticity check by a committee of experts, a practice that characterizes the events promoted by the Italian Antiquarians Association and represents an important guarantee for buyers.

An observatory on the art market

The exhibition is not just an opportunity for acquisition: it is also a moment of reflection on the state of Italian collecting. The 2025 edition was the first antique fair to operate with the new 5% reduced VAT rate on artworks, replacing the standard 22% rate, a measure considered decisive for the competitiveness of the Italian market compared to the French and German ones. The exhibition is surrounded by meetings, presentations, and conferences with museum directors, curators, and scholars.

Biennial frequency

In the organizers' intentions, Art and Collecting in Rome has a biennial frequency, alternating with the association's Florentine appointments: the first two editions were held in 2023 and 2025. No edition is announced for 2026, and the next appointment is presumably expected in 2027. It is therefore advisable to check the updated calendar on the Italian Antiquarians Association website before planning your trip.

A visit in the heart of the city

Palazzo Barberini is located in one of the most central areas of Rome, a short distance from the Trevi Fountain, Via Veneto, and the church of Santa Maria della Concezione. A visit to the exhibition naturally combines with the collections of the National Galleries and a walk through the historic center, making the event interesting even for those who are not collectors but want to approach ancient art in an exceptional setting.