Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi

One of the best things about exploring new places is the chance to see something new and unexpected. Even better when we are the only people there!

Rome's Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi is dedicated to the decorative arts of the 19th and 20th Centuries and we happened upon it while walking back from a stroll through the park. The actual title of the Museum includes fashion and costume so we, of course, had to go in. 

Built in 1901 and designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Giovenale for the Boncompagni Ludovisi family, the building was given to the city in 1972. It opened in 1995 and has recently undergone a renovation to open more floors. 

An interesting mix of ceramics, paintings, tapestries, embroideries, costume and clothes are shown together in this museum and it was really fun to walk through the big spaces and see what they were showing. Some of the big names in fashion and sculpture alongside important pieces from a Venice Biennale; this must have been just how the building looked when its last inhabitant, Princess Blanceflor de Bildt Boncompagni, lived here. 

Scattered throughout the building were references to a school of embroidery. I do not know if there is a link between the building or the Princess and the school, or if it is simply because the accent in this museum is on luxury and cratf. 

For some more information on the Museum have a look at this website and for some photographs of what is inside have a look at TripAdvisor.