There is no more romantic setting in Rome than an opera concert at Palazzo Poli — one of the city’s most storied palaces, just steps from the Trevi Fountain. Above you, the soaring ceilings of the Sala Dante. Around you, centuries of history. And then, the music begins.
The Trevi Fountain rests against the facade of Palazzo Poli. Inside the palace, the Sala Dante is the only place from which you can admire the Trevi Fountain from above, in all its Baroque grandeur. Inaugurated in 1866 with Franz Liszt himself present, the room has hosted Puccini, D’Annunzio, and Mascagni, carrying two centuries of music within its walls.
This is what romantic opera in Rome truly means: not a large theatre but an intimate evening where you can feel the music and breathe the history.
The concert programme by I Solisti dell’Opera Lirica di Roma is crafted for maximum emotional impact. A string quartet, a soprano, and a tenor take you through the greatest pages of Italian opera — pieces that have moved audiences for centuries and show no sign of losing their power.
You can expect to hear beloved arias such as E lucevan le stelle and O mio babbino caro by Puccini, the unforgettable Nessun dorma from Turandot, Bella figlia dell’Amore from Verdi’s Rigoletto, and the hauntingly beautiful Qui la voce sua soave from Bellini’s I Puritani. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons weaves through the evening alongside chamber pieces by Boccherini, and the programme closes on a warmer note with Torna a Surriento and Musica Proibita, the celebrated romanza by Turin composer Stanislao Gastaldon.
Concerts begin at 7:30 PM and last approximately one hour.
Before the concert, Palazzo Poli hosts art and photography exhibitions in its elegant halls. Arriving early to visit the current exhibition enriches the experience with an additional cultural layer before the music begins. Last entry is at 6:30 PM, with the exhibition closing at 7:00 PM.
A full evening itinerary
The beauty of Palazzo Poli’s location is that it sits at the heart of one of Rome’s most rewarding neighbourhoods for a romantic evening. Here is how to make the most of your time in this part of the city.
Arrive early and allow yourself time to wander. The area between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps — a walk of barely ten minutes — is one of the most pleasurable evening strolls in Rome, lined with small bars, boutiques, and Baroque churches worth stepping into.
Stop at Piazza Barberini (a 5-minute walk from Palazzo Poli) to admire Bernini’s magnificent Fontana del Tritone, one of Rome’s most underrated masterpieces.
For a pre-concert drink, Gregory’s Jazz Bar on Via Gregoriana — a short walk up toward the Spanish Steps — is a sophisticated spot beloved by Romans, pairing cocktails with live jazz in an atmosphere that sets the mood perfectly for an evening of music.
The neighbourhood around the Trevi Fountain has several restaurants where you can eat well without falling into tourist traps before the concert.
At some point in the evening, stand before the Trevi Fountain and toss your coin. The fountain is most magical after dark, when the crowds thin and the floodlights illuminate every detail of Salvi’s Baroque masterpiece — and after seeing it from above inside the Sala Dante, seeing it from the piazza takes on a different meaning entirely.
The best evenings in Rome feel like they were written for you — every moment connecting naturally to the next. An aperitivo near Piazza Barberini, a concert in the Sala Dante, a coin tossed at the Trevi Fountain, a late dinner in Piazza Navona: give your love story a setting worthy of it.
Secure your seats for our next concert at Palazzo Poli before they’re gone.
