Galleria Borghese director Anna Coliva on digital visitor management and Caravaggio Research Institute

Anna Coliva, director of Galleria Borghese for 23 years, discusses the museum's transition to autonomous status under the Franceschini reform and the implementation of a digital visitor counting system. This system, which monitors real-time entries and exits, has enabled the sale of last-minute tickets, reducing the historical problem of overcrowding peaks and empty periods. Despite improvements, the museum's fragile structure and size limit capacity during high traffic. Coliva emphasizes the need to reintroduce research and study within Italian museums, criticizing the lack of qualified administrative staff and a public-sector mentality among some personnel. She announces the Caravaggio Research Institute, a project supported by Fendi, aiming to create a network of international partners housing Caravaggio's works, positioning the museum as a cultural producer rather than a mere repository. The next exhibition will focus on Bernini. Coliva advocates for long-term projects that outlast directorial changes, stressing the importance of attracting scholars and knowledge-seekers over merely increasing visitor numbers.