For a true Rome experience, consider visiting at least one of its remarkable museums. Rome’s museums showcase a vast array of art, spanning from ancient sculptures to modern works, catering to diverse interests. Visitors should allocate more than one day to fully explore and appreciate these cultural treasures.
Galleria Borghese
This museum, situated in the picturesque Villa Borghese Park, is renowned for its exquisite collection of classical sculptures. Highlights include Bernini’s delicate marble of Apollo and Daphne, his fierce David, and Canova’s marble of a reclining Pauline Bonaparte. The gallery also features paintings by esteemed Italian artists such as Raphael, Caravaggio, and Correggio.
National Roman Museum
Spread across several locations, including the Baths of Diocletian and the Palazzo Massimo, the National Roman Museum houses an extensive collection of coins, statues, frescoes, and other artefacts from different periods of Roman history. It features intriguing items unearthed from the Roman and Imperial Fora.
MAXXI Museum
The MAXXI Museum, the latest addition to Rome’s cultural scene, opened in 2010 and was designed by the noted architect Zaha Hadid. It showcases contemporary art, incorporating various forms such as painting, photography, and multimedia installations from both Italian and international artists.
National Gallery of Modern Art
Founded in 1883, the National Gallery of Modern Art, known in Italian as Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, hosts an impressive collection of 19th and 20th-century art, featuring 1,100 paintings and sculptures, the largest collection of its kind in Italy.
Capitoline Museums
Perched on Campidoglio, or Capitol Hill, the Capitoline Museums are celebrated for their vast collection of antiquities and archaeological treasures. Established by Pope Clement XII in 1734, they were the world’s first public museums. Notable exhibits include a colossal statue of Constantine and a famous equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Visiting Rome’s museums provides a rich insight into the city’s extensive history and artistic evolution, making them essential stops on any itinerary.
