In Rome, the extension of the Galleria Borghese provokes a revolt

The Galleria Borghese in Rome has sparked controversy by initiating a feasibility study for a new building attached to its 17th-century villa. Museum director Francesca Cappelletti, in office since 2020, cites the need to increase visitor capacity, improve security, and create spaces for mediation, conferences, and temporary exhibitions. The museum, which saw nearly 630,000 visitors in 2025, operates with strict two-hour time slots capped at 180 people, often sold out in high season. Engineering firm Proger has offered to fund the study for €875,750 in exchange for institutional visibility, and Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has declared the project of public interest.

Heritage associations Italia Nostra and Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli have fiercely opposed the plan, publishing a joint statement titled "Giù le mani dalla Galleria Borghese" (Hands off the Galleria Borghese). They argue that the villa and its park form a coherent ensemble where the relationship between architecture and nature is itself a heritage asset, and that any new construction would destroy the landscape balance. Critics also object to private sponsorship, fearing it creates a conflict of interest and pressures the museum toward commercialization. Art historian Tomaso Montanari called the extension a "blasphemy" against national heritage. Citizen groups like Amici di Villa Borghese and SOS patrimonio storico di Roma have mobilized, threatening legal action.