Rome, the capital of Italy, is known throughout the world for its art and history. The immense cultural heritage is visible in every corner of its historic center. Since there are many monuments, walking through the streets is exciting. Here are the 10 most beautiful museums in Rome to visit during a vacation in the Eternal City.
The most beautiful museums in Rome.
The number of attractions and monuments to visit in Rome is truly surprising. Every corner of the city shows remnants of the past and ancient evidence of the thousand-year history of the capital of Italy. The profusion of styles and architecture leaves everyone amazed.
The museums of Rome share the same wealth. There are 207 museums in the city, including public, private, and university institutions of all types and themes. In fact, this number makes Rome the city with the most museums in Italy and probably in the world. Choosing the most beautiful museums in Rome is not an easy task, given their abundance. In fact, they all represent the enormous cultural, artistic, and historical heritage of the city. Here are the most visited and famous ones.
Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
This is the national museum of the Vatican City, founded in the early 16th century. The Vatican Museums represent one of the largest art collections in the world, accumulated over the centuries by the popes. The complex includes 12 museums, 5 galleries, 3 chapels, and 9 apartments.
The Vatican Pinacoteca houses works by painters such as Giotto, Leonardo, Raphael, and Caravaggio. The collection of modern religious art displays paintings by Bacon, Chagall, Dalí, Gauguin, Kandinsky, Matisse, and Van Gogh. Other sections display ancient and Renaissance art, ancient Egypt, Etruscan civilization, and early Christian art. In addition to the famous painter’s frescoes, the Raphael Rooms house the fresco of the “School of Athens.”
The Sistine Chapel
The main attraction of the Vatican Museums is the famous Sistine Chapel. Its construction was troubled. Various artists worked on its creation. However, it is universally known for the frescoes made by Michelangelo Buonarroti. Built between 1475 and 1481, the Sistine Chapel is located in the Apostolic Palace, where the conclave and other papal ceremonies take place.
The walls bear frescoes by some of the greatest Italian artists of the second half of the 15th century, such as Sandro Botticelli. However, as mentioned above, the most renowned works are those of Michelangelo, which adorn the ceiling, the lunettes, and “The Last Judgement.” The fresco, which dates between 1535 and 1541, graces the back wall above the altar.
The Vatican Museums are located in Viale Vaticano 6.
Colosseum Archaeological Park
Colosseum is Italy’s most visited monument and a global attraction. Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. It is part of the Archaeological Park that bears witness to the splendor of the ancient Roman Empire.
In fact, the visit of the Colosseum Archaeological Park includes the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Domus Aurea, the Arch of Constantine, and the Auditorium of Hadrian. In addition, the Archaeological Park boasts a series of permanent collections that form the basis of three other museums. The Colosseum Museum, located inside the monument itself, provides a historical account of its history. The Roman Forum Museum, on the first floor of the Cloister of Santa Maria Nova, exhibits archaeological finds discovered among its ruins. The Palatine Museum, in the former convent of the Nuns of the Visitation, exhibits finds from the origins of Rome and the imperial age.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park is located in Piazza del Colosseo.
Borghese Gallery
Among the most beautiful museums in Rome, there is the Borghese Gallery. It bears witness to the power and wealth of the Borghese, an Italian princely and papal family. The museum contains some masterpieces of world art. In the 20 frescoed rooms, you can admire an extraordinary collection of sculptures, bas-reliefs, mosaics, and paintings from the 15th to the 19th century. Another 260 paintings are in the deposits, accessible only by reservation.
Among the masterpieces, we can admire works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, and sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Antonio Canova. Among these, we remember the famous sculpture of “Rape of Proserpina” by Bernini and the statue of “Paolina Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix” by Canova.
The Borghese Gallery is located in Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5.
Capitoline Museums
With 13,000 m2 of exhibition space, the Capitoline Museums represent the most important civic museum system in Rome. Their origin dates back to 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a group of bronze statues to the Roman people. This makes the Capitoline Museums the oldest and first public museum in the world. There are three locations: the Palazzo dei Conservatori, the Villa and Palazzo Caffarelli, and the Palazzo Nuovo. All the buildings are located on Capitoline Hill.
The collections are varied. Among the most important pieces, we have the equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the bronze of the Capitoline Wolf, a symbol of Rome. Then we have the imposing head of Emperor Constantine I. The “Portrait of Charles I of Anjou” by Arnolfo di Cambio (1277) represents the first portrait depicting a living person. Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, and Velázquez are present with their paintings. An underground gallery, set up as a lapidary gallery, connects the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori.
The Capitoline Museums are located in Piazza del Campidoglio 1.
Castel Sant’Angelo Museum
Castel Sant’Angelo, one of the most beautiful museums in Rome, houses a diverse collection of artifacts. They represent all periods of Rome’s history. In fact, the construction of Castel Sant’Angelo took place at different historical moments, although its original nucleus dates back to 130-139 AD. After undergoing numerous changes in its intended use, Castel Sant’Angelo now serves as a museum and is among the most visited archaeological sites in Italy.
The monumental building includes seven floors. On levels 1, 2, and 3, we find the mausoleum, which also represents the entrance to the fortified castle. Following the papal apartments, the 4th floor features the Courtyard of the Angel, the Chapel of Pope Leo X, and the small rooms of Pope Alexander VI. The fifth floor showcases the luxurious Renaissance rooms and private apartments of Pope Paul III Farnese. On the sixth level, there are the library, the Treasure Room, the Festoon Room, the Hadrian’s Room, and the prison for high-ranking prisoners. The top floor includes the archives, the Hall of Columns, and the Round Room. From here you can access the terrace, which offers a panoramic view of Rome. The Park of the Mole Adriana surrounds the entire castle.
The Castel Sant’Angelo Museum is located in Lungotevere Castello 50.
MAXXI National Museum of the 21st Century Arts
Located in the Flaminio district, the MAXXI Museum of 21st Century Arts is the national center for contemporary art and architecture. The Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid designed the building that houses the exhibition. The collections include two sections: MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture.
The Art Collection includes over 400 works by international artists, with a focus on Italy and foreign artists who have worked in the Bel Paese. The unique Architecture Collection showcases a collection of drawings, models, sketches, and documents related to specific architectural projects.
The MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts is located in Via Guido Reni 4A.
National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
With its 20,000 works, the National Gallery of Rome houses one of the largest collections of Italian and foreign art in the world. The masterpieces it houses make it one of the most beautiful museums in Rome. Here you can discover all the artistic movements from the 19th century to the present day.
The establishment of the National Gallery in 1883 aimed to gather the exceptional works showcased at the National Exhibitions. The collection includes masterpieces by Canova, Van Gogh, Monet, Klimt, Pollock, and Mondrian.
The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is located in Viale delle Belle Arti 131.
Doria Pamphilj Gallery
Among the most beautiful museums in Rome, we cannot forget the Galleria Doria Pamphilj. It is located in the luxurious palace on Via del Corso. It is one of the largest and most important private collections in the world. The Galleria Doria Pamphilj originated in the first half of the 17th century in the magnificent spaces of what is considered the largest private noble palace in Rome. Inside, the gallery displays rich gold decorations, frescoed and stuccoed rooms, and precious fabrics. All in typical Baroque style.
The exhibition displays paintings by Tintoretto, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Jan Brueghel the Elder, and Velázquez. Velázquez’s 1650 portrait of Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, Pope Innocent, is also on display, along with period furniture and sculptures.
The Doria Pamphilj Gallery is located in Via del Corso 305.
Museums of Villa Torlonia
Villa Torlonia is a complex of buildings in the Nomentano district and is famous mainly for having been the residence of Benito Mussolini. Today, this 18th-19th century complex houses important museum collections. The Casino Nobile houses the Villa Museum, along with the collection of works of the Roman School, a painting movement that developed in the years between the two world wars. The Casino dei Principi hosts exhibitions and the Archive of the Roman School. Finally, we have the Casina delle Civette Museum with its lush gardens.
The spectacular Casina delle Civette displays architecture that is halfway between an Alpine refuge and a medieval house. Built in the mid-19th century, the Casina delle Civette features artistic stained glass windows, decorative elements in wrought iron and Art Nouveau style, boiserie, and splendid stucco decorations. Inside we also find Maiolica by Richard Ginori, Cantagalli, and Villeroy & Boch. The museum tour takes you through numerous rooms filled with period furnishings.
The Museums of Villa Torlonia are located in Via Nomentana 70.
National Roman Museum
Among the 10 most beautiful museums in Rome, the National Roman Museum is a must-see. It was founded in 1890 to collect all the testimonies of the history of ancient Rome. There are four locations. In the Renaissance Altemps Palace, we find the exhibition on the history of Renaissance archaeological collecting. Inside, there are masterpieces of ancient sculpture belonging to noble collections of immense value. The famous Baths of Diocletian include the grandiose monumental ruins. They also house the epigraphic and protohistoric sections, as well as the major public and funerary monuments.
The Crypta Balbi comprises several buildings. Among the most significant buildings is the National Roman Museum, which houses collections of medieval Roman history, urban archaeology, and the ruins of the Crypta itself. Finally, the 19th-century Massimo Palace houses collections of ancient art, numismatics, and goldsmithing. The Numismatic Cabinet, one of the highlights of the National Roman Museum, is located here.
The National Roman Museum is located at the addresses of Piazza S. Apollinare 46 (Palazzo Altemps), Via Enrico de Nicola, 78 (Baths of Diocletian), Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31 (Crypta Balbi), and Largo di Villa Peretti, 2 (Palazzo Massimo).
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Tourist Information Offices in Rome
The tourist offices of Rome are open 365 days a year in the historic center, in the central station Roma Termini, and in the airports Leonardo da Vinci in Fiumicino and G.B. Pastine in Ciampino. The staff is available to provide all useful information about tourist-cultural interest, itineraries, events, means of transport, the sale of ATAC tickets, and the sale and collection of Roma Passes.
- Tourist Information Areas Termini
Termini Station: Two desks in Galleria Gommata
Every day 10 a.m.-6 p.m. - Tourist Infopoint Fori Imperiali (closed on June 2)
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Every day 9.30 a.m-7 p.m. In July and August, open to the public from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Tourist Infopoint MINGHETTI
Via Marco Minghetti
Every day 9.30 a.m-7 p.m. - Tourist Infopoint: Castel San Angelo.
Piazza Pia (adjacent to the gardens)
Open every day
From October 28 to March 31, 2024, 8.30 a.m-6 p.m.
From April 1 to October 27, 2024, 9.30 a.m-9 p.m. - Tourist Infopoint Ciampino Airport
G.B. Pastine, External Area: International Arrivals
Monday to Sunday, 8.30 a.m.–6.00 p.m.
For tourist information, call 060608. - Tourist Infopoint Fiumicino Airport
International Arrivals Terminal T3
Every day, 8.30 a.m.–8.00 p.m. - Barbarini Reception Point
At the Department of Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion of Rome Capital in Via di San Basilio 51, which is close to Piazza Barberini. Open: Monday to Friday 8.00 a.m.- 8 p.m. - PAT (Tourist Reception Point) Piazza Campitelli
Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m.–6.45 p.m. (closed Saturday and Sunday)
