Museums and Galleries

On any tourist trip, especially to Rome, don’t miss an opportunity to visit local museums and galleries with contemporary and ancient artworks by famous masters. The Eternal City is home and an inspiration for many talented artists, where many masterpieces were created.

Things to Know about Museums & Galleries in Rome

Here is our selection of the best 10 roman museums that contain unique masterpieces:

We recommend you to visit museums and galleries in the second half of the day, when there are less tourists than during the morning time

Vatican Museums

A massive complex of museums (Musei Vaticani), located on the territory of the Vatican, includes 54 galleries.

The most famous are the Apostolic Library, Raphael’s staves, and the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo. Pope Julius II founded the museum in 1506. Moreover, the first exhibit was the sculpture group “Laocoon and His Sons” (Gruppo del Lacoonte).

Upcoming days tickets to Vatican Museums

It is better to visit the Museums of the Vatican with a professional tour guide.

National Roman Museum

National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano) is a museum with several branches in several buildings throughout the Eternal City. It has exhibits from the pre-and early history of Rome, focusing on archaeological findings from the period of Ancient Rome.

These three buildings are:

1. The Baths of Diocletian (Latin: Thermae Diocletiani, Italian: Terme di Diocleziano) with a collection of antique inscriptions and sculptures.
2. Palazzo Altemps with 104 antique sculptures of the Ludovisi family, the Egyptian collection, and the collection of the Mattei family.
3. Palazzo Massimo (Palazzo Massimo alle Terme) has the richest collection of antique frescoes, jewelry, and coins.

Borghese Gallery

The Borghese Gallery (Galleria Borghese) is called “the queen of private collections.” Cardinal Scipione Borghese created the rich assembly. Today, there are wonderful examples of ancient art and the best sculptures of Bernini.

Upcoming days tickets to Borghese Gallery

Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums (Musei Capitolini) are located in the three Capitoline palaces: Senators, Conservatives, and the New Palace (Palazzo Nuovo).

The beginning of the museum collection was put by Pope Sixtus IV, who presented to the Roman people several antique bronze statues in 1417. Today, the Palazzo of Conservators contains a rich collection of antique exhibits, where the most valuable one being the original of “The Capitoline Wolf” (Lupa Capitolina). In addition, the New Palace shows unique mosaics from the villa of Emperor Hadrian.

National Gallery of Ancient Art

The National Gallery of Ancient Art (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica) is located in the palaces of Barberini and Corsini.

Barberini Palace (Palazzo Barberini) contains such masterpieces as Raphael’s “Fornarina” and “Judith and Holofernes” by Caravaggio, as well as many canvases by Titian and El Greco. Talking about Corsini Palace (Palazzo Corsini), there are famous artworks of Caravaggio, Rubens and Brueghel.

Upcoming days tickets to Barberini Palace

Villa Giulia

On the territory of Villa Giulia is a museum of Etruscan art with exciting exhibits of the material culture of the disappeared civilization. The exposition devoted to the funeral cult of the Etruscans is especially famous among visitors. Moreover, the building was formerly the summer residence of the Roman popes.

Doria Pamphilj Gallery

Doria Pamphilj Gallery (Galleria Doria Pamphilj) is a private gallery with a rich collection of art objects. Many famous Italian paintings of the 17th century by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and other artists exist. Also, you will find an impressive collection of marble reliefs by Duquesnoy.

Upcoming days tickets to Doria Pamphilj Gallery

Spada Gallery

The private collection of the Spada Gallery (Palazzo e Galleria Spada), dating back to the 17th century, includes works by Titian, Guido Reni, Rubens, and other prominent Renaissance masters.

An interesting sight of the palace is the Borromini Perspective, which is a gradually narrowing corridor. The sixty-centimeter figure of the rider, placed at the narrow end of the corridor, looks as if it reached an average human height.

See also a Guide to Borromini’s Masterpieces in Rome.

National Gallery of Modern Art

The National Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderno) is an exhibition hall near the famous Villa Borghese, built-in 1915. There are masterpieces by Italian futurists and realists such as Renato Guttuso. In the middle of the 20^th century, the gallery was replenished with the works of foreign artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Picasso.

Municipal Gallery of Modern Art

The Municipal Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria Comunale d’Arte Moderno) is located in the brewery’s building. The official opening of the gallery took place in 2002. There are artworks of the most famous masters of the Italian art scene. In addition, the museum has a library, a bookshop, and a multi-level terrace with an outdoor cafe on the roof.

Rome is a city of culture, exceptional masterpieces, and unique history. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the local galleries and museums of the Eternal City!