Art and Collectibles in Rome: A Cultural Salon

After the great success of the first edition—with nearly 10,000 attendees in 2023 and sales volumes of several million euros—the antique exhibition ‘Art and Collectibles in Rome’ returns to the capital, taking place from September 18 to 23, 2025, in the prestigious setting of Palazzo Barberini, home to the National Galleries of Ancient Art. There will be 63 selected exhibitors (up from 45 in 2023), among the most important Italian and international galleries, presenting works of high historical and artistic value in a setup conceived as a true ‘cultural salon,’ where the value of dialogue, research, and knowledge will be central to the exhibition path. Alongside painting and sculpture, ample space will also be dedicated to decorative arts, testifying to the prestigious Italian antiquarian tradition. Organized by the Italian Antiquarians Association, the event is reaffirmed as an international cultural and commercial appointment, aiming to position Rome at the pinnacle of the European antiquarian scene, offering scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts an exhibition rich in new and never-before-seen works. It will also be an opportunity for a first discussion within the sector following the government’s measure that reduced the VAT rate from 22% to 5% on sales and imports of artworks in Italy. A packed program of events will frame the exhibition: from the exclusive inaugural gala dinner (reserved for about 600 guests including collectors, museum directors, and institutional figures), to the invitation-only preview, up to the public opening from September 20 to 23, with continuous hours from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (early closing at 6:00 p.m. on September 23). ‘This second edition is born from the desire to consolidate a project that has managed to combine scientific rigor, enhancement of the antiquarian market, and openness to the general public. Rome has regained its place in the European geography of antiques, and we are grateful to Palazzo Barberini for hosting us. It will be an opportunity to meet the general public, to keep alive a fundamental relationship for the country’s culture. The exhibition, which accompanies the prestigious Florence Biennale, is based on small showcases where each antiquarian will exhibit the works of masters, decorative art objects, sculpture, design, and painting that both follow and at the same time direct today’s taste. It is no coincidence that Italy is a destination for international tourism that is rapidly becoming a primary economic resource for the entire Italian system,’ declares the president of the Italian Antiquarians Association, Bruno Botticelli.