The Capitoline Museums in Rome are the oldest national museum in the world. They are located in the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori in the Piazza del Campidoglio on top of the Capitol Hill. Apart from the permanent exhibition, the Musei Capitolini also host temporary exhibitions.
A brief history of the Capitoline Museums in Rome
The Musei Capitolini owe their existence to Pope Sixtus IV, who in 1471 donated the bronze statues of the Lateran to the people of Rome. The Pope’s present consisted of the Spinario, the Camillo, the She-Wolf and the Head of Emperor Constantine with a hand holding a globe.
In subsequent years more and more works, mostly found during excavations, were added to the collection. Its prestige was raised even more when Pope Pius V wanted to get rid of the heathen idols that stood in the Vatican. , presented the Capitoline Museums with 140 classical sculptures. In 1654, a number of these statues was moved into Michelangelo‘s Palazzo Nuovo.
The museum was not officially inaugurated until the year 1734. Pope Clement XII did the honors.
Meanwhile Rome kept expanding. More and more excavations took place in more and more areas and many of the finds ended up in the Capitoline Museums.
Layout of the Capitoline Museums
The entrance to the museums is in the Palazzo dei Conservatori. The museum itinerary starts in a courtyard, from where you can visit the rest of the palazzo, including the Pinacoteca. To get to the Palazzo Nuovo across the square, you have to go through ah ancient hallway below the Palazzo Senatorio. From the hallway, which used to be the ancient Tabularium, you have a magnificent view over the Roman Forum. Since 2020, a separate building called Palazzo Caffarelli, has also been added and is mostly used for temporary exhibitions.
Highlights Capitoline Museums Rome
Palazzo Senatorio
Courtyard with Colossus of Constantine and Dea Roma
The courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori contains several famous sculptures. The most striking ones are the enormous foot and head of what used to be a colossal statue of Emperor Constantine. The arms, legs and head were made of white marble, while gilded bronze was used for the torso, a process called acrolite. The Colossus of Constantine measured over 12 meters, the head alone measuring 2.60 metres. The statue was located in the Basilica of Maxentius at the Forum Romanum.
The 3,10 meter marble statue of a seated Goddess Roma in the same courtyard is 3,10 meters tall. Dating back to the Hadrianic period (117–138 AD), it is based on a 5th-century BC Greek original. The colossal sculpture was restored as the goddess Roma by adding the head, the right arm, part of the chest, and the left hand. The statue was part of the Cesi collection.
Exedra of Marcus Aurelius
The exedra of Marcus Aurelius is a large oval hall with a glass ceiling. Designed by the Roman architect Carlo Aymonino (1926-2020), and occupying the former Roman Garden area, it was inaugurated in 2005. The exedra contains some of the most famous statues in the museum.
The She-Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus dates from the 5th century B.C. The two children were only added in 1471, however. A small copy of the statue is attached to the left side wall of the Palazzo Senatorio.
The original of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, a copy of which stands in the middle of Piazza del Campidoglio, can be seen in the Museums.
Pinacotheque
The highlights of the Capitoline Museums Pinacotheque are paintings by masters such as Caravaggio, Guercini and the Carracci brothers.
The Sala Santa Petronella is dominated by a huge painting by Guercino, which has “The Burial of Saint Petronella” as its theme.
In this room there are also two Caravaggio‘s, the “Saint John the Baptist” from 1595 and “The Soothsayer”. “John the Baptist” is depicted completely naked, while caressesing a sheep, which is a rathe runusual portrayal. The second painting shows a gypsy pretending to read someone’s hand but in reality stealing their ring.
In the Sala Pietro da Cortona you can see the famous “Sabine Virgin Robbery”. The painting dates from 1629.
Tabularium
The Tabularium is a hallway underneath the Palazzo Senatorio, connecting the Palazzo Nuovo to the Palazzo dei Conservatori. The Tabularium is the ancient public archive of Rome that overlooks the Roman Forum.
Galleria Lapidaria
The Galleria di Congiunzione is the underground gallery connecting the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. It was constructed in the late 1930s and preserves the remains of Roman homes from the 2nd century AD. In 2005, the Galleria Lapidaria was created here, to house the epigraphic collection of the Capitoline Museums.
Palazzo Nuovo
Hall of the Philosophers
In October 2013 the Sala dei Filosofi in the Palazzo Nuovo was reopened to the public after a long restoration. The collection in this hall consists of copies of busts of Greek poets, politicians and scientists. Originally, these works used to decorate the homes of wealthy Romans.
Marforio
This huge statue with its fountain is located in the courtyard of the Palazzo Nuovo. Originally Marforio was one of the famous talking statues of Rome.
Sala delle Colombe
The “Hall of the Doves” is named after a mosaic from the Villa Adriana. It represents four, faithfully reproduced pigeons, around a bowl of water. Probably the artist was a Greek artist called Soso.
Some Famous Statues
Other famous statues are the Dying Gaul (Galaea Morente) and the Spinario (a young athlete trying to take a splinter out of his foot). The Dying Gaul is a copy of a Greek statue from the 3rd century BC. The Spinario is two centuries younger. The Capitoline Venus is so impressive that she got a small niche all to herself.
Discobolus
The Discobolus is partly a copy from the 1st century of the torso of a discus thrower made by Mirone in 460. The French sculptor Pierre-Etienne Monno transformed the original statue into a wounded warrior in the 18th century.
Severus as Hunter
This 3rd century statue shows the Emperor Alexander Severus. The statue refers to a famous statue of Perseus holding up the head of the Medusa he killed. Of the “Medusa” herself there is a bust made by Bernini (room 5 in the Palazzo dei Conservatori).
Exhibitions and special events
- Tiziano, Lotto, Crivelli e Guercino. Capolavori della Pinacoteca di Ancona (“Masterpieces from the Ancona Pinacotheque”), until March 30, 2025.
- I Farnese nella Roma del Cinquecento. Origini e fortuna di una collezione “Angels – Messengers, guardians and travellers, the sublime creatures from the Ancient to the Contemporary”), until November 1, 2026.
What to know before your visit to the Musei Capitolini
Opening times
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 9.00 to 20.00. No new visitors are admitted after 19.00 hrs. Closed: Monday; December 25th; January 1st; May 1st. December 25th and 31st: 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tickets
Visit the official Musei Capitolini website for 2025 ticket prices and reservations. The Roma Pass is valid. The Capitoline Museums are free for Rome residents, and, on the first Sunday of the month, for everybody.
How to get there
The address of the Musei Capitolini is Piazza del Campidoglio 1 – 00186 Roma (District: Campitelli). Alternative address: Via del Tempio di Giove. Tel. +39 060608 (the information number of the city of Rome). Bus: 40, 64, H.
Capitoline Museums – Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome
Bibliography
- Mauro Lucentini, The Rome Guide, Step by Step through History’s Greatest City.
- Maria Vittoria Mancinelli, Mara Minasi and Isabella Toffoletti, Museums of Rome (published by the municipality itself).
Photos
© Renato Prosciutto (unless otherwise indicated).
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