Swedish Design and a passion for Mediterranean studies
Founded in 1925, the Swedish Institute in Rome is an authentic hub of classical research. The Istituto di Studi Classici a Roma or Svenska Institutet i Rom originally started out with a small location in Monti but was later given its own building in 1939 in the periphery of Villa Borghese, in Valle Giulia, where it is located today.
The building was designed by the renowned Swedish architect Ivar Tengbom, while the interiors reflect the elegant simplicity of Swedish design. In the courtyard stands Solglitter, a sculpture by Carl Milles depicting a playful nymph riding a dolphin, which also appears in the Institute’s emblem. The complex includes an archaeological laboratory, residential accommodation for fellows and visiting scholars, a guesthouse added in 1964, and an auditorium created during later renovations.
The institute is also known for its extensive library, with around 70,000 books and 200 periodicals dedicated to classical archaeology and Mediterranean topography. Among the special donations made to the institute, it is worth referring to the Bildt Collection dedicated to the literature on Saint Bridget, Queen Christina of Sweden, and to cultural relations between Sweden and Italy.
The institute’s activities focus on archeology and throughout the years’ scholars have been participating in several excavation projects. Between the 60s and the 70s, for instance, the institute was involved in archaeological and investigative work on historical necropolis sites such as Saint Juvenal in the Province of Viterbo and “Pian di Luni”, by the river Mignone in the Comune di Blera. The institute hosts a variety of cultural seminars, exhibitions, concerts, and research presentations.
THE SWEDISH INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL STUDIES IN ROME
Via Omero, 14
The library is open on appointment ([email protected])
