Hi, I’m Gianluca.
I studied cultural anthropology, and I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people live, move, and experience a place.
Rome is not only my city – it’s the environment I love observing, understanding, and sharing through these small stories.
Together with my wife Connie, we host travellers in our small hotel near the Vatican, where we enjoy meeting people from all over the world and exchanging perspectives – just as I do here in the blog.
If you ever feel like saying hello while exploring Rome, you’ll find us on our terrace as well, where every morning we serve breakfast with a view.
Gianluca
Rome’s museums offer a deep dive into the city’s history, art, and culture. For guests at QuodLibet Bed and Breakfast, here’s a detailed guide to 20 of the most important museums.
1. Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums house masterpieces from classical antiquity to the Renaissance, including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. Visitors should book in advance due to high demand.
- Must-see: Laocoon Group, Sistine Chapel.
- Website: Vatican Museums
2. Capitoline Museums
These museums, on Capitoline Hill, are known for their exceptional collections of ancient Roman art, including the Capitoline Wolf and the Dying Gaul. It’s the world’s oldest public museum, founded in 1471.
- Must-see: Marcus Aurelius statue, Capitoline Venus.
- Website: Capitoline Museums
3. Galleria Borghese
Located in Villa Borghese, the gallery contains stunning works by Bernini, Caravaggio, and Titian. Tickets must be booked in advance due to limited daily access.
- Must-see: Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne, Caravaggio’s Boy with a Basket of Fruit.
- Website: Galleria Borghese
4. Palazzo Barberini
Palazzo Barberini houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art, featuring works by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Guido Reni. The palace itself is an architectural gem from the Baroque period.
- Must-see: Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes, Raphael’s La Fornarina.
- Website: Palazzo Barberini
5. National Roman Museum
Spread across four locations, this museum offers a deep dive into ancient Rome, with statues, frescoes, and mosaics from Rome’s glorious past. The Palazzo Massimo location is particularly impressive.
- Must-see: Boxer at Rest, Discobolus.
- Website: National Roman Museum
6. MAXXI
This modern art museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, focuses on 21st-century art and architecture. It features exhibitions on contemporary themes and international artists.
- Must-see: Rotating exhibitions of contemporary art.
- Website: MAXXI
7. Museo dell’Ara Pacis
This museum is dedicated to the Ara Pacis, an altar built to celebrate Augustus’ reign. It is one of the finest examples of Roman relief sculpture.
- Must-see: The Ara Pacis itself, one of the most significant Roman altars.
- Website: Ara Pacis Museum
8. Centrale Montemartini
A striking fusion of ancient Roman sculptures and industrial machinery, this museum offers an unusual contrast, located in a former power plant.
- Must-see: Athena Parthenos, Roman busts and sarcophagi.
- Website: Centrale Montemartini
9. Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia
This museum contains the most extensive collection of Etruscan art and artifacts, including the famous Sarcophagus of the Spouses.
- Must-see: Etruscan tomb treasures, bronze works.
- Website: Villa Giulia
10. Galleria d’Arte Moderna
The Gallery of Modern Art features 19th and 20th-century Italian works, focusing on artists from Rome and beyond.
- Must-see: Roman School paintings and sculptures.
- Website: Galleria d’Arte Moderna
11. Museo di Roma
Located in Palazzo Braschi, this museum tells the story of Rome’s evolution from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
- Must-see: Paintings and models of historic Rome.
- Website: Museo di Roma
12. Castel Sant’Angelo
Originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, the castle has served as a fortress, papal residence, and prison. Today, it offers stunning views of the Vatican.
- Must-see: Hadrian’s mausoleum, panoramic views of Rome.
- Website: Castel Sant’Angelo
13. Trajan’s Markets
This archaeological site features the ruins of ancient Roman markets and offers a glimpse into commercial life in Imperial Rome.
- Must-see: Ruins of ancient shops and Imperial Fora artifacts.
- Website: Trajan’s Markets
14. Museo delle Civiltà
This museum covers prehistoric, ethnographic, and ancient civilizations from around the world, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cultures.
- Must-see: Prehistoric tools, artifacts from the Near East.
- Website: Museo delle Civiltà
15. Villa Farnesina
This Renaissance villa in Trastevere features stunning frescoes by Raphael and represents the pinnacle of Renaissance art and architecture.
- Must-see: Raphael’s Galatea fresco, mythological themes.
- Website: Villa Farnesina
16. Museo Napoleonico
Located in Palazzo Primoli, this museum is dedicated to Napoleonic memorabilia, with portraits, furniture, and artifacts from the Bonaparte family.
- Must-see: Napoleonic relics and furnishings.
- Website: Museo Napoleonico
17. Museo Barracco
This small museum houses a collection of ancient sculptures from Egypt, Greece, and Rome, donated by Baron Giovanni Barracco.
- Must-see: Egyptian and Greek antiquities, including statues and reliefs.
- Website: Museo Barracco
18. Museo di Roma in Trastevere
This museum focuses on Roman life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with exhibitions on the city’s folklore, daily life, and festivals.
- Must-see: Photographs and reconstructions of historic Rome.
- Website: Museo di Roma in Trastevere
19. Keats-Shelley House
Located at the base of the Spanish Steps, this museum is dedicated to Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Shelley, featuring manuscripts and personal items.
- Must-see: Keats’ death mask, Romantic manuscripts.
- Website: Keats-Shelley House
20. National Gallery of Modern Art
This gallery displays 19th and 20th-century art, with works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas, along with prominent Italian artists.
- Must-see: Monet’s Water Lilies, Italian Futurism.
- Website: National Gallery of Modern Art