The Museo Barracco is a relatively small museum in Rome. Its collection consists mainly of antique works of art from different areas around the Mediterranean. its official name is Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco.
A brief history of the Museo Barracco in Rome
Giovanni Barracco was a nobleman who in 1902 donated his entire private sculpture collection to the museum, since he did not have relatives who could have inherited it after his death.
Initially the collection remained in Barracco‘s residence in the Via del Corso, but later it was moved to a small building in what is now the Corso Vittorio Emanuele (across the road from the Church of Giovanni dei Fiorentini). When the actual Corso Vittorio Emanuele was constructed, this house was torn down. In 1947, it was moved to its current location.
The present Museo Barracco is housed in a 16th century historical building, also on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. The palazzo is nicknamed Le Roy, or the Farnesina ai Baullari and was constructed after a design by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. This last nickname was the result of a mistake. The facade is adorned by lillies, a symbol of the Farnese family, but in reality they never owned the palace. In the 18th century several floors were added, but in the 20th century the architect E. Guj renovated the building in the original style.
The Museo Barracco was closed for several years, due to restoration work, but now its collection can be admired again.
What to see in the Museo Barracco
The Barracco collection itself consists of 380 Egyptian, Assyrian, Cypriot, Greek, Etruscan and of course Roman works of art. Barracco meant this to be an overview of ancient Mediterranean art.
The first two rooms are dedicated to Egyptian art, from the 3rd millenium BC up to the Roman era. The exhibits include a funeral stele of Nefer, a sphinx from Hatshepsut, a wooden Leonine protome and a basalt clepsydra (water clock).
The Assyrian section contains 9th to 12th century BC slabs with reliefs from Ninive and Nimrud.
The Greek-Roman section on the second floor showcases original works from Attica (5th and 4th century BC), as well as Roman copies of Greek art.
The Roman period is represented by a fragment of a mosaic from the Villa of Livia at Prima Porta, depicting two partridges sipping water.
One of the highlights of the collection is a 7th century mosaic from the first Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Other interesting collections in the museum are the Barracco and the Pollak libraries.
Address, opening hours and admission
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 166a – Rome. Phone: +39 060608 (information number city of Rome). Admission: Free. Opening hours: From Tuesdays till Sundays from 10:00 till 18:00; December 24 and 31 from 09:00 till 14:00. Closed: Mondays, January 1, May 1, December 25.
Museo Barracco, Rome
Sources
- 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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