CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS
The first public museum on earth (1471). Housed in two magnificent palaces redesigned by Michelangelo. Despite their prestigious collections the museums are never too crowded. The original equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the only equestrian bronze statue surviving from antiquity is here. Among its treasures: the Dying Gaul, the Spinario (boy with a thorn), one of the most admired and copied ancient statues in the Renaissance. There is also an interesting collection of portraits of emperors and philosophers and a fabulous Medusa by Bernini. At the end of the tour a stop at the Caffarelli Terrace (Museum cafeteria) would be the perfect conclusion: it offers one of the most impressive panoramas of the city.
PALAZZO MASSIMO
It houses the most important section of the National Roman Museum, one of the greatest collections of Greek and Roman statues in the world. Among the highlights the Boxer at Rest, a stunning Hellenistic Greek sculpture or the statue of Augustus Pontifex Maximus from the Via Labicana. Amazing frescoes, mosaics, jewels, portraits of Roman emperors. The famous Maiden of Antium is probably an original Greek piece from Nero’s villa at Antium. The best preserved Roman copy of the Discus Thrower is here (from the Lancellotti collection) as some awesome bronzes from Caligula’s ships and the Sarcophagus of Portonaccio, carved with a scene of a battle between Romans and barbarians dating back to the period of Marcus Aurelius. The second floor is entirely dedicated to frescoes, stuccoes and mosaics from Roman villas. The most famous one is the Triclinium from the Villa of Livia.
PALAZZO ALTEMPS
Another branch of the National Roman Museum. The amazing collections of antiquities were previously private and belonged to Roman noble families in XVI and XVII century. Not only they illustrate the antiquarian taste at the time but they are displayed in a splendid XV century palace near Piazza Navona. Among the highlights the Hera Ludovisi: a colossal marble head portraying the empress Antonia Minor, the youngest daughter of Marc Anthony and Augustus’ niece as the godess Juno. Or the Ludovisi Ares restored by Bernini, the Ludovisi Throne and the so-called Grande Ludovisi Sarcophagus.
CENTRALE MONTEMARTINI
A unique display of Roman statues from the Capitoline Museums. The Centrale Montemartini was the first public electrical plant in the city named after his designer. Fallen in disuse, it was restored and converted into an original exhibition space. More than 400 sculptures from the Musei Capitolini have been moved here. A perfect mix of Classical and industrial archaeology.
