THE CASINO DELL’AURORA PALLAVICINI, A MARVEL OF BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE IN ROME 

The Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini is a gem of Roman Baroque architecture built on the ancient ruins of Constantine’s opulent thermal baths, located on the Quirinal Hill in the heart of the Eternal City, and nested within the exquisite architectural complex of Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi.

The Casino is accessed through the dual ‘Scala della Pastorella’ (Staircase of the Shepherdess), which is adorned with statues and marble busts from the Roman era and leads to a secret hanging garden. At the far end stands the Casino dell’Aurora, which Cardinal Scipione Borghese had erected between 1612 and 1613 by Flemish architect Giovanni Vasanzio, its façade richly decorated with slabs of Roman sarcophagi from the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D.

The central body is lightened by large windows that create suggestive transparencies between the interior and the exterior, opening into a central hall which is dominated by the magnificent fresco of ‘L’Aurora’ by Guido Reni (1614). In the same room are other remarkable frescoes by Antonio Tempesta, Cherubino Alberti and Paul Bril, as well as 17th-century marble busts and sculptures from Roman times, including the renowned ‘Artemide Rospigliosi’. The two side rooms, also frescoed, house some paintings and furnishings from the extraordinary Pallavicini Collection.

THE HISTORY OF CASINO DELL’AURORA PALLAVICINI

The Casino dell'Aurora Pallavicini is located on Quirinal Hill, nested within the exquisite complex of Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi and formerly the site of the opulent Baths of Constantine. A gem of early 17th-century Roman Baroque architecture, it was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and designed by Flemish architect Giovanni Vasanzio on the ruins of Constantine’s grand thermal baths. Its windows directly overlook the Piazza del Quirinale and the Fontana dei Dioscuri fountain, while three large windows open onto a hanging garden which spans approximately 2,000 square metres.

The pavilion, which has a total area of 220 square metres, consists of a central space splendidly frescoed by Guido Reni, featuring Aurora’s chariot, along with works by Cherubino Alberti, Paul Bril and Antonio Tempesta. It also includes two side rooms, which also contain frescoes by Giovanni Baglione and Domenico Cresti, also known as Il Passignano, and which house several paintings from the extraordinary Pallavicini collection, in addition to a selection of marble busts and precious sculptures.

The Casino dell’Aurora is a loggia that Cardinal Scipione Borghese had built by Flemish architect Giovanni Vasanzio in 1612-1613. Vasanzio succeeded in achieving a perfect balance between the architectural structure and the rich decoration of the façade. One of its most distinctive features is the presence of slabs of Roman sarcophagi from the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., which narrate ancient mythological stories related to the themes of love, death and the immortality of the soul.

The central body of the façade is lightened by large windows that create suggestive transparencies between the interior and the exterior, opening into a central hall which is dominated by the magnificent fresco of ‘L’Aurora’ by Guido Reni (1614). In the same room are other remarkable frescoes, including Antonio Tempesta’s ‘Trionfo della Fama’ and ‘Trionfo di Amore’ (celebrating the dual triumphs of fame and love), Cherubino Alberti’s cardinal's coat of arms and cherubs, and Paul Bril's ‘Quattro Stagioni’ (Four Seasons), as well as 17th-century marble busts and sculptures from Roman times, including the renowned ‘Artemide Rospigliosi’. The two side rooms, the vaults of which are frescoed by Passignano’s ‘Combattimento tra Rinaldo e Armida’ (The Combat Between Rinaldo and Armida) and Baglione’s ‘Favola di Armida’ (The Tale of Armida), house several paintings from the extraordinary Pallavicini collection.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES: PRIVATE EVENTS AND RECEPTIONS IN ROME

The Casino dell’Aurora remains, as it was originally conceived, a prestigious venue for private events, such as conferences, concerts, conventions, business meetings, gala dinners and exhibitions of various kinds. The very select and increasingly international clientele includes multinational corporations, financial institutions, oil and insurance companies, government entities, medical experts, and discerning tourist and cultural associations. The unique beauty of the garden provides an unforgettable backdrop for classical music concerts, haute couture fashion shows and cultural events.

EXPERIENCING THE HISTORY OF ROMAN ARISTOCRACY FIRSTHAND

Private events: corporate meetings and conferences, seminars, exhibitions, concerts, official luncheons. Prices start from €5,200.

Available spaces: indoors, the central hall and two side rooms provide a total of 225 square metres; the external garden area offers an additional 1,800 square metres.

Additional amenities: blackout and air-conditioning in all the halls in the pavilion; heating in the service area and restrooms; direct external telephone line; electrical power available, 14 kilowatts at 380 volts in total; possibility of internal parking for 3/5 cars.

Private visits: €1,000 + VAT (up to 20 people, on weekdays).

Only institutional, conference and cultural events are permitted.