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Home / Museums and Galleries /

Capitoline Museums

Written by: Kate Zusmann

Capitoline Museums in Rome
Tickets
  • €22 Adult
  • €0 Child (<6 years)

Buy tickets online:

  • tiqets.com
  • museicapitolini.org
Tip Sometimes there are long queues for tickets, it would be a good decision to buy them online in advance.

Guided tours are in Italian, English, French, Spanish, and German.

You can choose the Capitoline Museums as one of the attractions using Roma Pass.

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
Capolinea7 min 342 m: 85 87
Cavour/Ricci19 min 932 m: 46
Closest subway stations
Colosseo15 min 751 m: B
Circo Massimo20 min 986 m: B
Address Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, Roma
Website www.museicapitolini.org

The Capitoline Museums are considered the world’s oldest national museums founded in 1471. Pope Sixtus IV bequeathed valuable bronze statues to Roman citizens, and this collection led to the birth of this world-famous site. There are two buildings in front of each other on Piazza del Campidoglio. Also, there you will find many sculptures, mosaics, artworks, frescoes, archeological excavations, and art galleries. The major symbol of Rome, “Lupa Capitolina,” is located in the museums.

The museums consist of two buildings located on the Piazza del Campidoglio: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. Moreover, both buildings are linked by the Galleria Lapidaria, a tunnel located under Piazza del Campidoglio.

Contents

Toggle
  • Things to Know before visit the Capitoline Museums
    • Are the Capitoline Museums worth visiting?
    • How long to spend in Capitoline Museums?
    • Is there a dress code for visiting Capitoline Museums?
    • What is significant about the Capitoline Museums?
    • What age is the Capitoline Museum for?
    • Are there any restaurants inside Capitoline Museums?
  • Palazzo dei Conservatori
  • Palazzo Nuovo

Things to Know before visit the Capitoline Museums

Are the Capitoline Museums worth visiting?

Yes, the Capitoline Museums in Rome are definitely worth visiting. They house an extensive collection of ancient Roman art and artifacts, offering a deep dive into the city's history.

How long to spend in Capitoline Museums?

Plan to spend around 2 to 3 hours exploring the Capitoline Museums. This allows ample time to appreciate the exhibits without feeling rushed. Taking a tour with a professional guide is a great idea, as there are many exhibits in the museum. Self-preparation by reading literature and articles to understand them will take a lot of time.

Is there a dress code for visiting Capitoline Museums?

There is no strict dress code for visiting the Capitoline Museums. However, comfortable attire and footwear are recommended for a pleasant experience while walking through the museum's extensive galleries.

What is significant about the Capitoline Museums?

The Capitoline Museums are significant for their vast collection of ancient Roman statues, inscriptions, and artifacts, including the iconic Capitoline Wolf statue. They provide a comprehensive insight into Roman history and culture.

What age is the Capitoline Museum for?

The Capitoline Museums are suitable for all ages. While younger children might not appreciate the historical context, interactive displays and impressive sculptures can still captivate their interest.

Are there any restaurants inside Capitoline Museums?

Yes, there is a café in the Capitoline Museums where visitors can enjoy light meals and refreshments while taking a break from exploring the exhibits. The café, named Terrazza Caffarelli, offers stunning views of the panorama of Rome.

Palazzo dei Conservatori

The Palazzo dei Conservatori was opened in 1734 under Pope Clement XII. There you will find a collection with paintings, sculptures, busts of famous people of that time, and works by legendary Caravaggio, Tiziano, Rubens, and Tintoretto.

Moreover, the Palazzo dei Conservatori is the main entrance to the museums, and previously, it was the main location of the city magistrates. Additionally, part of the ground floor is still used as a municipal register office.

Also, there is the rooftop restaurant, with views over the city of Rome.

Glorious “She Wolf” (Lupa Capitolina) and the Ritratto di Carlo I d’Angio de Arnolfo di Cambio, the first sculpture of a living person, are located there.

“She Wolf” (Lupa Capitolina) Capitoline Museums Rome

Talking about “Lupa Capitolina,” the statue was donated to the Roman people by Pope Sixtus IV. The bronze wolf is from the 5th-century BC, but her suckling wards were added in 1471. Moreover, there are Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s “Medusa” and the “Spinario” from the 1st-century, which is a bronze of a boy removing a thorn from his foot.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s “Medusa” in Capitoline Museums Rome

When you enter the building, take a look at the ancient masonry located on the ground-floor courtyard, where you will find a mammoth head, foot, and hand. Importantly, these came from a 12 meters high statue of Constantine. The statue originally stood in the Basilica di Massenzio in the Roman Forum.

statue of Constantine in Capitoline Museums Rome

Upstairs, in the Pinacoteca, there is the museums’ art gallery with works from the 16th and 17th-centuries. There are several rooms with masterpieces, and two of them are separate:

  • The Sala Pietro da Cortona with Pietro da Cortona’s legendary depiction of the “Ratto delle Sabine” (Rape of the Sabine)
  • The Sala Santa Petronella, named after Guercino’s huge canvas “Seppellimento di Santa Petronilla (The Burial of St Petronilla)

Palazzo Nuovo

The Palazzo Nuovo is dedicated primarily to the exhibition of statues, sculptures, mosaics, and busts, where some of them are replicas of Greek originals.

Among the museum’s greatest works, there is the “Capitoline Venus,” a marble sculpture of the nude goddess designed between 100 and 150 A.D. Also, there is the “Galata Morente” – a Roman copy of a 3rd century BC original by Greeks, which shows the anguish of a dying Gaul warrior.

In the Hall of the Philosophers, you will find impressive busts of Greek and Roman philosophers. They had previously decorated the gardens and villas of the Roman aristocrats.

When in Rome, you should definitely visit the Capitoline Museums. Tell us about your experience and your famous artwork in the comments!

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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