ROME, Italy (AP) — Every year, millions visit Rome’s famous sites, but few enter the exclusive Colonna Palace.
This private home-museum, spread across four wings over an entire block in the city center, opens only to small groups for a few hours on Friday and Saturday mornings. The palace, owned by the Colonna family since the 12th century, houses paintings, sculptures and a 76-meter (249-foot) Great Hall.
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A view of the Galleria Colonna on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Ceremonial uniforms worn by palace staff are displayed in the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A portrait of Prince Marcantonio Colonna is seen over family photographs inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A photograph, right, of Milagros, Marcantonio and Laurentia Colonna is on display inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of part of the monumental fountain designed by architect Girolamo Rainaldi in the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
View of the Galleria Colonna on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists film Annibale Carracci's oil-on-canvas painting The Bean Eater, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A "pietra dura" and gilt bronze cabinet by Filippo Schor is on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists film Annibale Carracci's oil-on-canvas painting The Bean Eater, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Interior view of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Curator Patrizia Piergiovanni, director of Galleria Colonna, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A journalist films the uniform of the Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, worn by Prince Colonna until 1968, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit the Chapel Hall, featuring a baldachin bearing the Colonna family's coat of arms, inside Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
An exterior view of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A photograph of Milagros, Marcantonio and Laurentia Colonna is on display inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the Galleria Colonna at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A view of the Galleria Colonna on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Ceremonial uniforms worn by palace staff are displayed in the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A portrait of Prince Marcantonio Colonna is seen over family photographs inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A photograph, right, of Milagros, Marcantonio and Laurentia Colonna is on display inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of part of the monumental fountain designed by architect Girolamo Rainaldi in the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
View of the Galleria Colonna on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists film Annibale Carracci's oil-on-canvas painting The Bean Eater, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A "pietra dura" and gilt bronze cabinet by Filippo Schor is on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists film Annibale Carracci's oil-on-canvas painting The Bean Eater, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Interior view of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Curator Patrizia Piergiovanni, director of Galleria Colonna, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in the gardens of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A journalist films the uniform of the Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, worn by Prince Colonna until 1968, on display at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Journalists visit the Chapel Hall, featuring a baldachin bearing the Colonna family's coat of arms, inside Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
An exterior view of Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A photograph of Milagros, Marcantonio and Laurentia Colonna is on display inside the prince's apartments at Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, in Rome during a media tour, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A view of the Galleria Colonna at Rome's Palazzo Colonna, or the Colonna Palace, whose original design was by architect Antonio del Grande and later enhanced by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Johan Paul Schor and Carlo Fontana in the final decades of the 17th century, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
PHOENIX (AP) — UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions during a heated exchange with Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskies' loss to South Carolina in the women's Final Four.
A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina’s 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.
“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. “I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused.
“I have no idea,” the South Carolina coach said when asked what happened. “But I’m going to let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand.
“I don’t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”
South Carolina advanced to play UCLA in the title game on Sunday. The Gamecocks are looking for their third championship in five seasons.
UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other the next two years with the first game in Connecticut.
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, right, yells at UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, left, after a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)