National Gallery at Pallazo Corsini Rome
The baroque Pallazo Corsini has its own wonderful history. This was the 18th-century home of Pope Clemente XII (aka Lorenzo Corsini). Before it was damaged by the French in 1849, the palace was once the grandest in Rome. Queen Christina died here, and Napoleon's mother once lived here as well. Today the palace serves as a national gallery of art, housing the works of the 16th and 17th century. The rooms are large and spacious and have recently been restored.

The collection includes such noteworthy pieces as Guido Reni's Beatrice Cenci, Caravaggio's St. John the Baptist and Murillo's Madonna and Bambino. The gallery is certainly much smaller than the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery, but you will find the atmosphere to be much more casual and the lack of crowds means you can examine the paintings at your own, unhurried, pace. The rest of the National Gallery collection is installed at Palazzo Barberini.