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Home / Museums and Galleries /

Museum of the Ara Pacis Augustae

Written by: Kate Zusmann

Ara Pacis Museum in Rome
Tickets
  • €13 Adult
  • €11 EU citizens (<25 years)
  • €11 Senior (65+ years)
  • €0 Children (<6 years)

Buy tickets online:

  • www.arapacis.it
Tip Inside, focus on the intricate reliefs, particularly the procession of the imperial family and the detailed floral motifs. You can use the multimedia guides to deepen your understanding. Don't miss the altar's inscriptions, which are rich with historical significance.
Opening Hours
Sunday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Recommended tour
Closest bus stops
Lgt Marzio/Porto Di Ripetta3 min 138 m: 628
Ripetta3 min 158 m: 70 81 82 492
Closest subway stations
Barberini22 min 1.1 km: A
Repubblica 34 min 1.7 km: A
Address Lungotevere in Augusta, Roma
Website www.arapacis.it

The Ara Pacis Museum (ital. Museo dell’Ara Pacis) belongs to the museum system run by Rome City Council; it is in the Ara Pacis of Augustus (Ara Pacis Augustae), an ancient monument originally unveiled on January 30, 9 BC.

Contents

Toggle
  • Things to Know Before Visit Ara Pacis Museum
    • Why was the Ara Pacis constructed?
    • What are the messages of Ara Pacis Augustae?
    • What does Ara Pacis commemorate?
    • When was the Ara Pacis excavated?
    • How was the Ara Pacis designed?
  • What is the Ara Pacis Nowadays?
  • Ara Pacis Structure
    • Criticism of the Museum
  • Nearby Attractions

Things to Know Before Visit Ara Pacis Museum

Why was the Ara Pacis constructed?

In 13 BC, the Roman Senate decided to erect an altar in honor of Emperor Augustus. Four years later, in the year 9 AC, the Ara Pacis Augustae, or Augustus' Altar of Peace was dedicated. A magnificent monument that honors the peace and prosperity that Emperor Caesar Augustus brought to Rome.

What are the messages of Ara Pacis Augustae?

The Ara Pacis was the instrument that Augustus used to spread his message of Augustan peace and give his people piety, peace, prosperity, and fertility. Through the use of propaganda, Augustus used the Ara Pacis to declare his victory over the western provinces and spread the idea that he was descended from the gods.

What does Ara Pacis commemorate?

Ara Pacis honors the peace and prosperity that Emperor Caesar Augustus brought to Rome.

When was the Ara Pacis excavated?

The major excavation of the Ara Pacis took place in 1937-38, under what was then a corner of the Palazzo Fiano-Almagià and adjoining street, the Via in Lucina.

How was the Ara Pacis designed?

White marble that had previously been beautifully painted was used to construct the Ara Pacis. It is made up of an extensively caved exterior wall that encloses a space called the precinct, which houses the actual sacrificial altar, and measures approximately 11 meters by 11 meters.

In 13 BC, the Roman Senate decided to erect an altar in honor of Emperor Augustus. Four years later, in the year 9 AC, the Ara Pacis Augustae, or Augustus’ Altar of Peace, was dedicated. A magnificent monument that honors the peace and prosperity that Emperor Caesar Augustus brought to Rome.

Ancient Roman architecture Ara Pacis Augustae

This marble monument honors the peace that the emperor brought to the Mediterranean after his successful campaigns in Hispania and Gaul. It was situated in Campo Marzio, a large territory outside the city limits that served as the northern gateway to Rome via the Via Flaminia, now Via del Corso. When the legions returned from a battle, they practiced purification rituals here.

Subsequently, the structure vanished by the beginning of the second century AD. The monument was eventually covered in Tiber River mud, and the area’s urbanization resulted in the loss of the site. In the 20th century, this historical site was moved from Campo Marzio to the Tiber Bank and set up in front of the Augustus Mausoleum, where it is now. It was recovered from a Renaissance building’s foundation.

What is the Ara Pacis Nowadays?

Ara Pacis Museum today

As a temple where only priests and vestals participated in the sacrifice of sacred animals, the Ara Pacis is one of the most important structures from Ancient Rome.

Interestingly, the Ara Pacis monument is an altar housed inside a closed Carrara marble construction. Its remarkable decoration includes several reliefs depicting the Augustan family in procession. In addition, there are several allegories about the founding of Rome.

Ara Pacis Structure

Ancient Roman architecture details

The museum of the Ara Pacis is the first significant architectural and urban intervention in Rome’s historic center since Fascism. American architect Richard Meier created it, which is made of steel, travertine, glass, and plaster. This triumphal-style structure references ancient Rome.

Undoubtedly, the white color highlights the style of Richard Meier’s work. Moreover, the travertine slabs adorning part of the building reflect design changes (aluminum surfaces were initially planned) that were made after the design review to account for the controversy that sparked nostalgia for the previous pavilion built on the same site in 1938 by the architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo.

Museum of the Ara Pacis in Rome

Criticism of the Museum

The structure of the Museum of the Ara Pacis has generated debate. Vittorio Sgarbi, a noted art critic and controversialist, described it as “a Texas gas station on the very ground of one of the most important urban centers in the world” and the first step towards the “internationalization” of Rome. The New York Times considered it a failure. However, there are different viewpoints; for instance, Achille Bonito Oliva admired Meyer’s design.

Have a pleasant visit to the Museum of the Ara Pacis!

Nearby Attractions

Field of Mars
9 min 1440 ft 440 m
Via del Corso
9 min 1480 ft 450 m
Palazzo Altemps
11 min 1800 ft 550 m
Basilica of Saint Augustine
11 min 1840 ft 560 m
Piazza del Popolo
11 min 1840 ft 560 m
Fontana della Barcaccia
11 min 1840 ft 560 m
Spanish Steps
12 min 1940 ft 590 m
Pincio Terrace
12 min 2000 ft 610 m
Column of the Immaculate Conception
12 min 2030 ft 620 m
Trinita dei Monti Church
13 min 2130 ft 650 m

Author: Kate Zusmann

Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

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About us ROME.US Authors Kate Zusmann and Artur Jakucewicz
2025.We're Kate and Artur, a duo bound by our shared fascination with the Eternal City – Rome. Our paths, driven by a mutual passion for its timeless stories and architectural marvels, converged in a way we had never imagined.

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