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Anna Coliva retires after 26 years leading Galleria Borghese

institutional · 2026-04-27

Anna Coliva, director of Galleria Borghese since 2016 and a key figure at the museum since 1994, is retiring. She oversaw the museum's reopening after lockdown on May 19, 2020, and leaves a legacy of major exhibitions, including the 2017-2018 Bernini show that attracted 169,000 visitors. Coliva also launched the Caravaggio Research Institute in partnership with Fendi. A 2018 anonymous complaint of absenteeism led to a suspension, later revoked after international museum directors petitioned in her defense. The new director will be selected from candidates who applied in a March 2020 competition by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

Key facts

  • Anna Coliva retires after 26 years at Galleria Borghese.
  • She was director since 2016, previously inspector and acting director.
  • Galleria Borghese reopened on May 19, 2020 after lockdown.
  • Coliva curated the 2017-2018 Bernini exhibition with 169,000 visitors.
  • She launched the Caravaggio Research Institute with Fendi.
  • In 2018, she was suspended over an anonymous absenteeism complaint.
  • The suspension was revoked after international support.
  • New director will be chosen from a March 2020 competition by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

Entities

Artists

  • Anna Coliva
  • Gian Lorenzo Bernini
  • Caravaggio

Institutions

  • Galleria Borghese
  • Ministero dei Beni Culturali
  • Fendi
  • Caravaggio Research Institute
  • Louvre
  • Ambasciata di Spagna

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy

Sources