Bramante Cloister

The Chiostro del Bramante, located in the heart of Rome, is one of the masterpieces of Italian Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa around 1500 and designed by Donato Bramante, the cloister is a perfect example of Vitruvian harmony and proportion. Its square plan and the portico with 16 pillars form an elegant central space, with two superimposed orders: the ground floor with Ionic pilasters and the upper floor with pseudo-Corinthian pilasters. The severe and decoration-free architectural language contrasts with Bramante’s Lombard decorative style, highlighting an essential and pure design. The lunettes in the portico are frescoed with stories of the life of the Virgin Mary and episodes related to the church. Today, the Chiostro del Bramante is a cultural and museum space, inaugurated in 1996 thanks to the vision of Patrizia de Marco. Managed by the company Dart Chiostro del Bramante, the complex hosts temporary art exhibitions, cultural events, a café, and a bookstore. The exhibitions organized range from classical to contemporary artists, making the cloister a reference point for art and culture in Rome. Among the most significant exhibitions are those dedicated to Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Jean Michel Basquiat, and thematic exhibitions such as “Mirò! Poetry and light” and “Banksy a visual protest”. Dart Chiostro del Bramante’s commitment is to make art accessible to everyone through inclusive communication and the promotion of research activities and the dissemination of artistic languages. The cloister also serves as a scenic backdrop for exclusive events, collaborating with important international partners such as the Louvre Museum, the Tate Modern, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Furthermore, Dart Chiostro del Bramante supports social inclusion actions, collaborating with the Don Bosco Foundation for the employment integration of young people from the community.