Anna Coliva breaks silence on Galleria Borghese expansion controversy

Anna Coliva, director of Galleria Borghese from 1998 to 2020, has finally spoken out against the proposed expansion of the museum, funded by Proger Spa with €875,750.19 for a design competition. She argues that a new building adjacent to the historic villa would not solve capacity issues, as the museum's limitations stem from its structure. Coliva criticizes the lack of public debate and the haste of the project, noting that the municipality of Rome has never shown such intense interest in culture. She suggests that the real solution lies in reclaiming three neighboring buildings—the Meridiana, Uccelliera, and Uffizi—which were assigned to the city in 1903 and never returned. These could house archives, a conference space, and a ticket office/café, freeing up the basement for exhibitions. Coliva also draws parallels to the new metro station near Chiesa Nuova, calling it a megastore disguised as culture. She accuses the city of prioritizing tourism and events over sustainable development.