Una nuova ala per risolvere i problemi della Galleria Borghese a Roma. Bella sfida, stucchevoli polemiche
The Galleria Borghese in Rome, one of Italy's most extraordinary museums, faces significant accessibility and capacity issues due to its historic 17th-century structure. The museum is difficult for visitors with disabilities, overcrowded, and forces visitors to book far in advance—often waiting over a month for a time slot—while many masterpieces remain in storage. In 2025, the engineering firm Proger offered to sponsor a feasibility study for a new wing, contributing nearly 900,000 euros to fund an international architecture competition and a technical-economic feasibility plan. The study, currently underway, aims to explore whether a new annex can be built within the protected Villa Borghese park to create new entrances, exhibition spaces, and services.
This matters because the Galleria Borghese is a world-class institution whose structural limitations prevent it from serving the public equitably, especially vulnerable groups like disabled visitors, students, and scholars. The proposed expansion could resolve chronic issues of access, storage, and visitor experience, but it has already sparked controversy among critics who fear the impact on the historic site. The project also highlights the growing role of private sponsorship in Italy's cultural sector, as Proger—a fast-growing engineering firm—seeks prestige and visibility through this high-profile initiative. The outcome of the feasibility study could set a precedent for how historic museums balance preservation with modernization.