The inside of the Braschi Palace in Piazza Navona has taken on a magical character, full of surprises, to host the exhibition “Per Gioco,” which brings together over 700 examples of antique toys.
Some are true historical relics. There are model airplanes, familiar toys and a wide collection of dolls.
MARIA
“I used to play with rag dolls. We or our moms would make them. They would sew them and draw faces on them so we could play. Those were the toys we made ourselves.”
Within the 22 exhibition rooms, there are 15 doll houses. Among them is one that belonged to the Queen of Sweden from the end of the 17th century.
Among impressive model airplanes and boats are these small windows from which children can admire the toys probably used by their grandparents. There's everything from these small automobiles full of anecdotes and dreams, to these bigger toys, likely witnesses to some sort of child mischief.
ELISA
“My favorite part was being taken back to my childhood and seeing things I'd never seen before. I'm 29 years old, and I didn't recognize all the dolls nor handmade wooden boats and models.”
This piece recreating Noah's Ark includes wooden animals and Noah himself. This scene offers the chance to experience the excitement of Italian soccer. These trains once carried the dreams of many children.
JAIME
“My favorite part was the trains. Those were surely the trains used back in the day, all machines, very impressive. The airplane section is also great. The airplane models are made of wood and metal. It's really worth seeing.”
This collection of pieces from 1860 to 1930, the so-called “golden age” of toys, can be visited until January 2021.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: Claudia Torres
