A Queen in Exile, a Kingdom in Memory: The Sobieski Court Lives Again in Rome

The exhibition dedicated to Maria Casimira Sobieska - an emblematic figure of 17th-century Europe - brings to life a story of exile and diplomacy, art and identity, rooted in one of the most turbulent periods of European monarchy. Structured into five main sections, the show evocatively retraces the queen’s presence in Rome alongside her royal family: rare portraits, inscriptions, autographed letters, historical prints, and symbolic objects - such as a hussar’s cuirass - blend historical narrative with collective memory. Far from Warsaw but deeply embedded in Rome’s cultural life, Maria Casimira reinvented herself as a patron of the arts, academic, and supporter of baroque music, establishing a true court in exile. Complementing the visual narrative, the exhibition features 18th-century arias and tactile experiences, opening its storytelling to a broad audience. A layered, captivating tableau that explores the intersection of worlds: nobility and faith, memory and the city.