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7 Must-Visit Museums in Rome

The Hall of the Hercules at the National Gallery of Modern Art, image by Andrea Comisi sourced from Wikimedia Commons

When you think of Rome and huge collections of art, of course the very first thing that comes to your mind are the Vatican Museums… Which are not in Rome proper. They’re in Vatican City, which also means they belong to another sovereign country!

True Romans are keen to stress that even though an invisible one, there is indeed a border between Italy and the most famous enclave on the planet, and are proud to point out the other museums actually located in the city that you should be visiting during your holiday.

One great thing about them is that the Vatican Museums tend to take all the attention, so none of them are as impacted by visitors. One extra reason to go check them out!

1. Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums)

One of the three wings in the Capitoline Museums, image sourced from Museicapitolini.org

The oldest museums in the world, they date back to 1471, when the Pope of that time, Sixtus IV, decided to donate part of the Catholic Church’s collection of ancient art to the people of Rome. They are located on top of the Capitoline Hill, and share some of their spaces with the mayor’s offices – it’s not uncommon to meet prominent politicians while up there. They are in three separate buildings all overlooking the Piazza del Campidoglio square created by Michelangelo, so there is a lot to see!

Being a short distance from the Colosseum, many people tie them in with a visit to that landmark, or the Forum and Palatine Hill, but I really recommend that you dedicate a full day: they host some of ancient Rome’s greatest art masterpieces, for instance the Marcus Aurelius’ statue who’s copy is in the middle of the square right outside.

What’s more, the Capitoline Museums don’t just house classical art from ancient Rome but have a substantial collection of Renaissance and Baroque art, too, including works by the likes of Bernini or Caravaggio.

And if you feel like having a break during your visit, reach the museum’s cafeteria, Terrazza Caffarelli, one of the cheapest caf茅s to boast astounding views on the Forum.

Open every day of the week from 930AM to 730PM

2. Museo Nazionale Romano (National Roman Museum)

The Michelangelo-designed cloister at the Baths of Diocletian/National Roman Museum, image by Agnete sourced from Wikimedia Commons

The National Roman Museum, established at the end of the 19th century, has so many artifacts on display that, over the decades, 4 different branches have been opened, in 3 different parts of the city center.

The main wing, so to speak, is at the former Baths of Diocletian, opposite the train station at Roma Termini: if anything, go there to visit the huge space and enjoy the monumental architecture of this public spa (much of it still underground, lost or transformed into something else 鈥� e.g. the singular shape of nearby Piazza della Repubblica).

More branches of the National Roman Museum are at Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, a few hundred meters from the Baths of Diocletian, at Palazzo Altemps by Piazza Navona and at Crypta Balbi, one of my favorite underground sites in Rome.

The art in the permanent collection is mainly from ancient Rome (and it includes famous statues like the Boxer at rest) along with some objects from Ancient Greece, however the whole network often hosts temporary exhibitions from contemporary artists or photographers.

The great thing, to me, about the National Roman Museum is that it is actually very cheap to visit. The regular price is 12 Euros (or 15, in the event you go when a temporary exhibition is on: but make sure you check whether you can have a discount!) You can visit all four museums, provided you do so within three days (four days if one of them is a Monday).

Every museum in the Museo Nazionale Romano network is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 9AM to 745AM; the Baths of Diocletian will close at 730PM.

3. Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica a Palazzo Barberini (National Gallery of Ancient Art)

Visitors admiring the Fornarina by Raphael, image sourced from barberinicorsini.org

Palazzo Barberini, around the corner from the subway station by the same name, is one of the grandest palaces in central Rome, built in succession by Carlo Maderno, Francesco Borromini and Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the same time when St. Peter’s Basilica was being rebuilt. In 1949, it was bought out by the Italian government and gradually turned into the National Gallery of Ancient Art.

On top of being able to see such famous paintings as Judith beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio, or the Fornarina portrait by Raphael, the ticket here works like the one for the National Roman Museum.

With this same ticket you can also freely access a second branch of the institution, located at Galleria Corsini on the northern side of the Trastevere district: just be sure you visit within 7 days!

Palazzo Barberini is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 830AM to 7PM. Galleria Corsini is open from Wednesdays to Mondays from 830AM to 7PM. Ticket offices for both galleries close roughly at 6pm.

4. Galleria Borghese (Borghese Gallery)

The Galleria Borghese at a glance, image by Alejo2083 sourced by Wikimedia Commons

The former collection of art by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, with the Villa Borghese park named after his family, it has a strict mandatory booking policy – just 360 visitors are allowed in each day, and they can only stay a maximum of two hours.

And for good reason: the museum contains fragile masterpieces in a space that, while not cramped, was certainly not intended for huge crowds.

While outside the building there is also much to do, what with the park and its attractions, inside it you can see world-famous masterpieces such as the Pauline Bonaparte statue by Antonio Canova, or the Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, as well as the Lady with a unicorn by Raphael or a Deposition by Peter Paul Rubens… Listing all the art in the Borghese Gallery is impossible: it’s really a must-visit, if you have the time while in Rome.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9AM to 7PM. Book your visit AT THIS SITE

5. Galleria Nazionale di Arte Moderna (National Gallery of Modern Art)

The front of the Galleria Nazionale, image by Lennart Kjellman sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Some visitors may feel like the Galleria Nazionale di Arte Moderna’s offer overlaps slightly with Rome’s (and other capital’s) spaces for the contemporary arts, as it hosts works by artists who were active in the 20th century along with those from the 19th century.

What constitutes modern as opposed to contemporary is an interesting question, but way beyond the scope of this post: what you need to know is that this must see space has side by side works of Canova or Klimt as well Jackson Pollock, Marcel Duchamp, Alberto Burri or Amedeo Modigliani. A beautiful exhibition space with a wide-ranging exhibition of sculptures, paintings and installations, it has been featured prominently in movies (Ocean’s 12, more famously) and TV series.

If you go early in the morning, make sure you ask if there are places left for a visit to the museum’s storage rooms. There is just a handful of tickets available each time, and they tend to sell out quickly.

Pro-tip: should you want to visit, make sure you go to the correct place! There is one “Galleria di arte moderna“, almost the same name, managed by the city of Rome, which is walking distance from Trevi Fountain (also deserving of a visit, but much smaller, so you may end up feeling… underwhelmed if you mix them up!)

The Galleria Nazionale, instead, is owned by the Italian government and is between the Flaminio and Parioli district, by the northernmost entrance of the Villa Borghese park (and actually close to the Borghese Gallery!)

Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 830AM to 730PM.

6. Museo MAXXI (MAXXI Museum)

The hallways in the MAXXI Museum, image by Ricardo Gomez Angel sourced from Unsplash

One of the last buildings to be designed by the great, late Zaha Hadid (and apparently inspired by a bowl of squid ink linguine… at least as legend has it), this impressive building in the Flaminio district, north of Piazza del Popolo, houses a collection of 21st century art, hence its name (the “XXI” in the museum’s handle).

A must-see for all lovers of contemporary architecture and art, the MAXXI features a great bookshop, a restaurant, a cafeteria and a library, which means it’s also a great place to study, work or just hang out. The permanent collection is enhanced with temporary exhibitions, book launches, conferences and even concerts.

Open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 11AM to 7PM.

7. Centrale Montemartini (Montemartini Power Plant)

The set-up at Centrale Montemartini, image by Massimiliano Calamelli sourced from Flickr

The smallest museum in this selection, Centrale Montemartini is located in the vibrant Ostiense district, and everything about it is unusual… starting with its name.

As a matter of fact, “Centrale Montemartini” is the name of the very first power plant in Rome, which was preserved due to a newfound interest in all things urban archaeology.

The Capitoline Museums moved here some of their collection of Roman art, and visitors can enjoy it as they walk through the spaces of the former power house. A great location for lovers of photography, it is also a favorite among children, who enjoy being able to touch (to a degree!) the machinery there.

Open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 9AM to 7PM.