While wondering through the beautiful streets of Rome it’s clear to see why the Eternal City is often called an open-air museum, with outdoor ancient ruins from the Roman Empire to the Etruscan civilisation. A hub of history and culture, where every street and square tell a story of bygone eras. Museums in Rome Italy are home to some of the most distinguished museums in the world, from awe-inspiring paintings to world renowned sculptures of historical and global significance. From ancient art to modern and contemporary installations there is something for every visitor to enjoy while in Rome, let’s look at some of the best museums in Rome. Which museum in Rome will you visit?  

ANCIENT ART MUSEUMS IN ROME 

Rome is overflowing with ancient artifacts and is home to some of the best examples of Ancient Art Museums in the world, where you can marvel in centuries of ancient artistry from marble statues to frescoes and tombs that transport you back in time. 

Vatican Museums 

These public museums within the Vatican City are home to a vast array of artifacts amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy, from the Egyptian period to the Renaissance. Visit the Sistine Chapel and appreciate Michelangelo’s frescos as well as the Raphael Rooms for magnificent masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance. 

The Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini 

The museum is spread over two stunning sites that are home to some amazing collections of Roman art: The Palazzo Barberini and the Palazzo Corsini. Within the Palazzo Barberini Rome and the Palazzo Corsini Museum you will find a large array of ancient paintings including Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes and Narcissus as well as Raphael’s La Fornarina. 

  The Museo Nazionale Romano  

Comprised of four archaeological sites in Rome housing some incredible artifacts: 

Palazzo Altemps houses ancient sculptures that belonged to Roman nobility. 

Crypta Balbi is on the site of what used to be the theatre of Balbus in 13 BC and now contains excavations found there as well as an exhibition on the history of Rome. Another is the Palazzo Massimo, a must for ancient art lovers housing important works such as the Sleeping Hermaphroditus. And finally, The Baths of Diocletian, the largest bath complex in Ancient Rome, includes impressive sculptures and frescos, as well as ancient tombs. 

Borghese Gallery Rome 

This aristocratic palace turned art gallery is a treasure trove of Renaissance and Baroque art and is one of the best art museums in Rome for travellers wanting to experience the city’s rich beauty, with sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini such as David and Apollo and Daphne as well as some of the world’s finest paintings including many by Caravaggio. Visitors can then enjoy a relaxing stroll through the green gardens of the palace before heading back to the bustling city.  

MODERN ART MUSEUMS ROME 

For the lover of modern art Rome has plenty to offer with a large array of collections from both Italian and European artists spread over various locations and Museums in the city that are well worth exploring, it’s not all ancient ruins in Rome: 

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM) 

This gallery houses the largest collection of modern Italian art, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the Neoclassical period to the abstract works of the 1960’s. Enjoy works by Monet, Cezanne, Klimt, and Van Gogh. The wide range of art movements on display makes for a unique and interesting contrast between modernity and tradition.  

MACRO  

This art centre has two locations, one in the old Peroni brewery and the other in the old slaughterhouse of Testaccio, and houses some of the most unique expressions of Italian contemporary art, with exhibits ranging from Arte Povera to multimedia installations. The unique industrial era-style architecture of both locations makes for an interesting experience in themselves.

ROME CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS 

   If art produced after the 1960’s is what inspires you, then Rome has an existing range of art from feminist, postmodern, minimalist, and conceptual installations, paintings and sculptures at your fingertips. 

MAXXI ROME  

Built on the old site of the army barracks, this innovative building, designed by Zaha Hadid, is not just a museum but an interactive space for workshops and conferences. As well as housing numerous contemporary art pieces, the museum’s commitment to the exploration of new art forms is evident with its original research and development centre.  

Palazzo delle Esposizioni  

This neoclassical exhibition hall is the largest multidisciplinary art space in Rome, among the best must-see museums in Rome and much loved by locals and tourists alike. The majestic palace has a rich programme of contemporary exhibitions including film, theatre, photography, concerts and more. 

ART AT ROME’S FIUMICINO AIRPORT 

Last but not least, there is a new spot in Rome's artistic and cultural scene: art at Fiumicino Airport. For some time now, in fact, the capital's main airport has not just been a crossroads for international travel, but also an unexpected place for cultural initiatives at Fiumicino, welcoming travellers with a unique preview of Rome's cultural wealth, a truly 'wide-ranging museum' to be discovered. 

If you are departing from Leonardo da Vinci or passing through and curious about what to see at Fiumicino Airport, don't miss your chance to explore the exhibition routes of artwork at Rome’s Fiumicino, created in collaboration with institutions, organisations, and cultural associations from across the country, including: 

Master of Mistakes, by Daniele Sigalot 

Monumental installation (approximately 600 kg, 300 cm in diameter) composed of hundreds of aluminium sheets forming a dynamic planisphere, representing wrong ideas destined to be thrown away and all the mistakes made by the artist in his lifetime. This collection of mistakes is therefore crumpled up in a gigantic sphere, coming in at just under three meters high. It is an invitation to the public to stop and think for a moment on mistakes made and the awareness of such mistakes as key elements in every life.  

Stained glass windows attributed to Giotto

On show in Terminal 1’s Piazza del Molo, from 12th February, are three fourteenth-century stained glass windows, dating from around 1310 and attributed to the Italian Master Giotto. Belonging to the Religious Buildings Fund of the Ministry of the Interior, they come from the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. The historiated works respectively depict the prophet Aaron and two holy deacons. 

"Vertigine" by Manuel Felisi Fiumicino

This installation, located in Terminal 1, is an artistic reflection on travel and nature. Consisting of two opposing works, each made of small canvases, Felisi creates a visual dialogue with images of trees on backgrounds of interior decoration rollers, worked with acrylic and resin, forming grids of black lines. 

"Il Rinoceronte" by Marcantonio 

 A work of contemporary art featuring a life-sized white rhinoceros, located in boarding area E. With a screen embedded in the horn, the work challenges passers-by on issues such as the consumerist drift of society and the impact of our actions on the natural balance. 

Deti, by Marco Lodola  

Exhibited at Terminal 1’s Molo A, this work was Cyrillic letters spelling out the word for “children”, and aims to be a call for peace. The work, donated by the author to Aeroporti di Roma, represents a tribute to Picasso’s famous dove, while its colours recall those of the flag of peace 

"Uomini e Dei a Ostia Antica”  

An exhibition of original Roman sculptures and paintings, including works such as statues of Apollo and Sabina, frescoes and sculptural groups, representative of the art and culture of ancient Ostia statues. 

Bust of the Saviour (Salvator Mundi), by Gian Lorenzo Bernini  

Temporarily exhibited from April to August 2023, this sculpture, belonging to the Religious Buildings Fund of the Ministry of the Interior, came from the Roman Basilica of San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura, and represented a unique opportunity for passengers to admire Bernini’s masterpiece depicting the Blessing Christ. 

"La Balena" by Marcantonio  

Shown for the first four months of 2023 in the Pier A plaza, this installation was a reproduction of the skeleton of a whale. It was illuminated from the inside, symbolising the fragility of the natural reaction, and emphasising the importance of our responsibility towards the environment. 

These artworks at Fiumicino, along with other installations and temporary exhibitions, situate the airport among the best art galleries in Rome, offering travellers a rich, varied cultural experience from the moment they arrive. The fusion of ancient Roman and contemporary art at Rome’s airport is an expression of Rome's deep connection with its history and a sign of its continuous artistic evolution. 

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