Courtesy of Country Life, photo by Paul Barker

About us

The BSR’s history dates from 1901, when it was founded as a ‘school’ for research in archaeology and Italian studies.

‘Every period of the language and literature, antiquities, art and history of Rome and Italy shall be considered as coming within the province of the [BSR]’.

The BSR is situated in the Valle Giulia on the site of the 1911 British Pavilion. The Pavilion was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and then adapted by him to become the home of the British School at Rome. A major project of renovations and new buildings was completed in February 2004, with further work to improve the building’s sustainability being carried out in 2015-16.

Financial support comes from:

• the British government through the British Academy
• activity-specific sponsorship
• ongoing private support from donors
• Members

The majority of our staff are based in Rome but we have a small London office at the British Academy in London.