Roman holidays don't have to be in summer. November, December or January, when even the sunny Rome is sometimes grey and rainy, are full of events. Especially plenty of exhibitions, with this common characteristic: they are always in magnificent places, in fabulous palaces.
In this moment, and until the 18th January 2015, you can see a beautiful exhibition of the great 15th century Flemish painter (born in Germany) Hans Memling in Le Scuderie del Quirinale, just in front of the residence of the President of the Italian Republic, on the magic (especially in the evening) Piazza del Quirinale.
In this moment, and until the 18th January 2015, you can see a beautiful exhibition of the great 15th century Flemish painter (born in Germany) Hans Memling in Le Scuderie del Quirinale, just in front of the residence of the President of the Italian Republic, on the magic (especially in the evening) Piazza del Quirinale.
Piazza Del Quirinale, Rome - Italy
The most extraordinary moment is, at the end of your visit, when your eyes, still filled with the precious portraits of rich merchants and bankers and the most beautiful religious triptychs loaned from museums all around the world, will discover an incredible view on roman churches cupolas, through the glass stairs that you have to go down to get out from the Scuderie. Unforgettable!
 Saint Andrew Church - Via del Quirinale 29, Rome |  Saint Charles Church - Via Del Quirinale 23, Rome |
You can take, then, the Quirinale street, just on your right and walk, for a few minutes, between the Quirinal gardens and some Bernini's and Borromini's masterpieces (the churches Saint Andrew and Saint Charles) to get to another palace and another fantastic exhibition: "From Guercino to Caravaggio" (dedicated to the big collector and historian of Italian art, Sir Denis Mahon) in the Barberini Palace (until the 8 february 2015). It is very unusual to find so many Caravaggio all together. Even "The Lute Player" from the Hermitage Museum of St Petersburg is there! And, among the Guercino's paintings, you'll see the most beautiful baby-Jesus of the history of Italian painting ("Madonna of the Sparrow")
 Palazzo Barberini, Rome |  Madonna Of The Sparrow, Guercino (circa 1615/16) |
Another important Baroque exhibition is waiting for you in another marvellous palazzo, Villa Medici, the French Academy of Rome, overhanging the Spanish Steps. With the exhibition called "The baroque underworld. Vice and destitution in Rome" (until the 18 January 2015) you'll discover, with the taverns full of drunk people and prostitutes, the dark side of the Baroque Rome where, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, artists used to come from all Europe. As do tourists today...
Villa Medici, Rome
