Are you planning a trip to Rome?
We are here to help. Our local-experts provide travel advice on sites, activities, events, restaurants, hotels, shopping, nightlife, and much more. Vacation planning has never been this easy. Create your itinerary now »
Browsing Rome
Abbazia delle Tre Fontane
According to tradition, when St Paul was decapitated his head bounced on the ground three times and where it bounced rose three springs. This is where the 'Abbazia delle Tre Fontane' was founded, which during the Jubilees became a place of pilgrimage where faithful followers received plenary indulgence. The Abbazia is a complex of three churches built where the three fountains emerge. It is set in a tranquil location, surrounded by eucalyptus trees planted in 1868 by Trappist monks who, still famous for the liquor they produce from eucalyptus plants and their excellent chocolate, became proprietors of the land (which had been left since 1600 due to its barrenness). The three churches are the SS Vincenzo and Anastasio, the largest of the three, Santa Maria in Scala Coeli and S. Paolo alle Tre Fontane.
More »
Altare della Patria (Vittoriano)
This grand (some would say grandiose) monument was erected to celebrate King Victor Emmanuel II, also known as Il Vittoriano, the first ruler of a modern day unified Italy. Adjacent to the ancient Roman Forum, the "altar of the father" offers a striking contrast to the ruins of Rome's glory.
Built between 1885 and 1911, the monument, both by its placement near the Forum and its colossal design, clearly hopes to recapture the faded triumphs of the Empire. This ambition has not prevented Italians from indulging in one of their favorite pastimes of assigning it derisive nicknames, ranging from "the wedding cake" to "the typewriter."
A museum archiving the process of unification, or Risorgimento, is located inside. The monument also offers spectacular views of the Rome cityscape. More »
Appia Antica
The ancient Appian Way was the most important of the consular roads. It was inaugurated in 312 B.C. by censor Appius Claudius Ciecus after whom it was named. The road was especially important for economic reasons as it connected Rome with the south of Italy. Initially it only went as far as Capua along the Pontine marshes, but was later extended to Benevento and then all the way to Brindisi, which encouraged trade with the eastern Mediterranean. This last stretch lost importance however when the Appia Traia Way was opened that stretched down to Bari. Lined with pines and cypress trees, the road is very attractive, particularly where the original paving can be seen. There are many remains of Roman constructions that testify to its ancient splendour and archaeological importance.
More »
Ara Pacis
The altar, commissioned by the Senate following pacification work launched by Emperor Augustus, dates from 9 BC. The first panels were found in 1500 and ended up in Paris and Florence. Made from marble and beautifully sculpted, probably by Greek artists, the panels formed an enclosure around a base with an altar in the centre. The figures are from the imperial family. Restoration work was begun in 1938. Now the altar is protected by a glass covering.
More »
Arco di Costantino
The Arch of Constantine is particularly interesting because it is like a jigsaw made up of other monuments. It was built using material from Trajan's Forum, from where the statues of the Dacian prisoners and the friezes representing Marcus Aurelius were also taken. The Arch was erected at the beginning of the fourth century in honour of Constantine, following the victory over Maxentius. It is considered one of the last great monuments to be constructed by the Romans. It stands beside the Arco di Dolabella
In all probability, this arch was the ancient Porta Celimontana of the Servian walls, the first defensive walls raised by Servius Tullius, which were later used to support the Neronian aqueduct. The single arch gateway was raised by Consuls Cornelius Dolabella (from whom it takes its name) and Junius Silanus. On the wall to the right of the arch you will see a portal with an interesting mosaic shrine built by the Cosmati in the 13th century. Dolabella Arch stands at the crossroads of the Via Claudia with the Via S. Paolo della Croce before you reach the Largo della Sanità Militare.
More »
Area Sacra
The ancient buildings that can be seen here were discovered during excavation work in the 1920s. The four temples from the Republican era were named A, B, C and D. Temple C is the oldest, Temple A is from the 3rd c. BC, and some of the flooring and mosaics of Temple B are still visible. Though Temple C was built in 100 BC, the mosaic decorations were added during a later period.
More »
Auditorium (Parco della Musica)
Whether it's music, theater, dance or film that strikes your fancy, Rome's state of the art Auditorium offers something for everyone and at world-class levels of excellence.
Designed by major architect Renzo Piano, the Auditorium is much more than a mere concert venue, but an integral part of the fabric of Roman cultural life. The guided tour provides visitors with a deeper understanding of the site's remarkable acoustical features, as well as its history and place in the city's urban texture. More »
Bioparco
This used to be a zoo, but has now become the Bioparco. With only a few cages, the goal is to create an environment that is as close as possible to the animals' natural habitat. Here children can learn about where and how animals really live. Admission: Eur6.50 for children (3-12yrs) & Eur8.50 adults. Free entrance for children under 3, adults over 60 and the disabled.
More »
Bocca della Verita
The Mouth of Truth may be a grim looking piece of ancient Roman statuary, but it also carries a sheen of romance since being featured prominently in one of the most romantic movies ever made, "Roman Holiday," with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The Bocca della Vertia is believed to have been constructed before the 4th-century BC as a drain cover, but tradition has transformed it's purpose into a lie detector: the powerful jaws will descend upon the hands of anyone who speaks lies. Watch out!
More »
Bomarzo
Bomarzo is a small town in the Tiber valley, owned since the 16th century by the Orsini family who built the palace that dominates the town and the Monster Park, the main tourist attraction. This is a large, rather strange garden in which mysterious forms in the shape of ogres, dragons, turtles, winged horses, bears and mermaids have been sculpted from the rocks.
More »
Borgo
Borgo is a very old district of Rome that lies between the Vatican and the Tiber. Its name comes from 'Burg', the German word for fort, which was used by the barbarian leader Totila who took the city from the Romans in just a few days. During the Roman era the land belonged to Agrippina, the mother of Caligula. Nero's Circus was built here and it was considered a strategic point. In 848, Pope Leo IV had the walls of the Vatican city built to create a papal citadel, the "Leonine City". The four main roads of the district - Via Alessandrina, Via Borgo S. Angelo, Via Borgo Vecchio and Via di Santo Spirito - were embellished with small squares and fountains. Churches, monasteries and the hospital di Santo Spirito were built given the religious nature of the area, where the martyrdom of St. Peter and the first Italian Christians took place. It was over Peter's tomb that the most famous basilica in the world was built. Major events modified the appearance of the district: the unification of Italy, and 10 years later the choice of Rome as capital of the new country; and the destruction of the residential blocks between St. Peter's and Castel Sant'Angelo to build the main road that leads to the basilica.
More »
Campo de' Fiori
Tradition says that Campo dei Fiori was named after the woman loved by Pompey, Flora, but it is more likely to have come from something a bit less romantic: in the 14th century, Campo dei Fiori was a long-abandoned field filled with flowers. In the second half of the 19th century the square was used for a colourful market that has been held each morning since then. It was also the scene of many executions, most notably that of Giordano Bruno, the philosopher who was burned here in 1600. The statue dedicated to him replaced a fountain that was moved to the nearby Chiesa Nuova square, and a reproduction of it was moved to the side of the Campo dei Fiori.
More »
Capannelle
This well-organised horse riding centre is the largest in Rome. It offers a wide range of activities, including lessons, dressage and show jumping training. Races are also held on the track. The courses offered are tailor-made and suitable for everyone, adults and children alike. The teachers are all very experienced and competent.
More »
Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums are housed in two palaces that face each other. The one on the left of Michelangelo's steps is the New Palace, which houses one of Europe's most important collections of sculpture. It was designed by Michelangelo and became the world's first public museum in 1734 by order of Pope Clement XII. The other palace, the 'Conservatori,' houses important paintings such as Caravaggio's "St John the Baptist" and works by Titian, Veronese, Rubens and Tintoretto. A sculpture of an enormous foot that was once part of a statue of Emperor Constantine stands in the courtyard. One of the most famous pieces is unquestionably the "She-wolf", a bronze Etruscan sculpture from the 5th century BC to which the twins Romulus and Remus were added by Antonio del Pollaiolo during the Renaissance. General admission is EUR6.20, free to Italian children under 18 and seniors over 65.
More »
Carcere Mamertino
Tradition has it that the narrow cell connected to the Cloaca Maxima is the prison where Saint Peter was incarcerated before his crucifixion. There is an altar with a small spring which the Saint miraculously caused to gush forth and which he used to baptise his fellow prisoners and two guards. The prisoners died of starvation here and their bodies were then thrown in the nearby Cloaca. The Gallic leader, Vercingetorix, defeated by Julius Caesar, was also imprisoned and executed here. The prisons can be reached by a narrow flight of steps located inside the Chiesa di San Giuseppe dei Falegnami. Entry: free.
More »
Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi
The entrance to the Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi (House of the Knights of Rhodes) is in the lovely small Grillo Square, rather hidden and not known to all. The Order was originally named the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and later the Knights of Malta. The façade that looks onto the square has a 15th-century Crusader window while the others (one of which opens onto Campo Carleo and the other behind Augustus' Forum) each feature Roman structures: the first by a lovely trilobate balcony and the second by two crossed windows. The Casa dates from the 12th century but was embellished and restored in 1467-1470 by Cardinal Pietro Barbo when he was administrator of the priorate. It is likely that he used the same artists for this work as he did for Palazzo Venezia, his residence. Inside the Casa you will find the Chapel of St John the Baptist, which was designed and built in 1947. The atrium also leads to the Antiquarium in Augustus' Forum.
More »
Casa di Goethe
Situated on the Piazza del Popolo, Johann Wolfgang Goethe lived here with his friend, German painter Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, from 1786 to 1788. Now open as a museum honoring the celebrated German writer, this 600 square-meter facility offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as special events, including lectures, readings, concerts, and films. Visitors and scholars, by appointment only, may also visit the library, which has a fine selection of first and illustrated editions, and secondary resources.
More »
Casa di Lorenzo Manilio
The house of the humanist Lorenzo Manilio is now numbers 1 and 2 in the Via del Portico d'Ottavia. One inscription gives his name in Latin and Greek on the architrave, while another is in Roman letters on the frieze, noting the year of construction as 1497. The house is on two levels with shops on the ground floor. It was decorated with high reliefs of which some fragments remain. The scene of a lion attacking a deer and another of two dogs are particularly noteworthy.
More »
Casina Valadier
The Casina was originally a farmhouse, transformed by Valadier into a small neo-classical villa with terraces, loggias, columns and capitals for Cardinal Della Porta. The bust of astronomer Angelo Secchi stands in the small square in front of the house and, if you look carefully, you will see a small hole that indicates the point where the meridian passes through Rome. The Casina was originally built on an ancient Roman water tank whose pipes were used as a hiding place during the Sacking of Rome in 1527. Now it is a fashionable café-restaurant where artists and intellectuals meet. It is reached by going up the Viale D'Annunzio towards the Pincio, then taking the Via Belvedere, and finally the Via A. Mickievicz.
More »
Castel Sant'Angelo
The splendid fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian in 139 AD. In the 10th century AD it was transformed into a castle, then, 500 years later, into the elegant residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia. Michelangelo designed the marvellous main court for Pope Leon X and many of the rooms inside are decorated with frescoes of great beauty. It's also been used to house prisoners, including the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The terrace offers a fine view of the river Tiber and opera lovers will know that this was where the final act of Puccini's opera "Tosca" took place. The building is now a museum with a fine collection of suits of armour.
More »
Catacombe di Domitilla
Domitilla's catacombs are part of a vast funereal complex, a necropolis that contains monuments from the 1st century AD Santa Petronilla and the martyrs Nereo and Achilleo are buried in this area. The bodies of the two martyrs are in the underground basilica, whose entrance bears an inscription in their honour dictated by Pope Damaso. In one of the numerous cubicles there is a painting of matron Veneranda entering paradise accompanied by the martyr Petronilla. This is probably the first document that refers to Petronilla as a martyr; indeed, it dates from the first half of the 4th century. Part of the catacombs is reserved for the tombs of children, and there are images of Love and Psyche depicted as children surrounded by floral decorations.
More »
Catacombe di Priscilla (Le)
On Catacombe di San Callisto
The catacombs of San Callisto, known for more than two centuries as the Church of Rome's cemetery, contain the tombs of nine popes buried in the Crypt. They extend over approximately 20km on four floors. Strangely enough, the tomb of Callisto I, martyred in 200 while celebrating a mass in Trastevere, is not to be found here. The most visited sites are obviously the papal 'crypt' and Santa Cecilia's sepulchre. These places were accidentally discovered by the scholar Giovanni Battista de Rossi, who entered a vineyard and noticed two unusual structures; one was converted into a farmhouse and the other was used as a wine shop and contained bottles of wine. Acquiring the land with the consent of Pope Pius IX and starting excavations, he found some relics, which led to the final discovery of the entire complex. Admission is EUR5.
More »
Catacombe di San Sebastiano
The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian were not only the original final resting place of its namesake, but also held the bodies of Saints Peter and Paul until the reign of Constantine. Visitors can walk through the tunnels and study the mosaics, mausoleums, and even ancient graffiti. Both Christians and Pagans were buried in these catacombs, making it unique in that aspect.
More »
Centro Montemartini
The Civita Association has set aside an area for children under-12 in the former ACEA head office (which today houses Roman and Greek sculptures from the Capitoline Museums). On Sundays, they are supplied, free of charge, with paper, pencils and paintbrushes and allowed to wander round the exhibition halls, taking inspiration for their drawings from this ancient setting and thinking up novel and amusing ways in which to replace the parts missing from the statues.Admission: 6 EUR, minors 4 EUR, children under 6 and those in wheelchairs free. More »
Chiesa del Gesù
Chiesa del Gesù, the first Jesuit church in Rome, served as a model for later churches. Its appearance was changed in the 17th century, when its original austerity ceded to Baroque decoration. Designed by Andrea Pozzo, the chapel of Sant'Ignazio, with its columns in lapis lazuli and its gilded friezes, is typical of Baroque taste. Bernini is represented by a statue dedicated to San Roberto Bellarmino, a great theologian of the counter-Reformation. Don't miss the allegorical frescos of the nave, with stuccoes by Antonio Raggi, designed by Giovan Battista Gaulli, known as Baciccia, and responsible also for the paintings in the vault, the dome and the apse.
More »
Chiesa Nuova o Santa Maria in Vallicella
This church has had two names ever since San Filippo Neri gained pope Gregorio XIII's permission to rebuild a new church on the same site as the medieval Santa Maria in Vallicella. Work started towards the end of the sixteenth century and the finer details, such as the façade, were finished nearly one hundred years later. Great artists have contributed to the adornments, including Borromini with his Oratory, and Pietro Da Cortona's frescoes in the vault, dome and apse. The chapels are an art-lover's paradise with masterpieces by Rubens, Carlo Saraceni, Barocci and others. The chapel dedicated to San Filippo Neri is covered in valuable marble, semi-precious stones and mother-of-pearl. Neri's relics rest beneath the altar. The interior of the church was decorated only after Neri's death, according to his wishes.
More »
Chiesa Valdese
Although sitting in a corner of Piazza Cavour beside other visually impressive buildings (like the recently renovated Adriano theatre), the Valdese church succeeds in grabbing attention with its elegance and eclectic combination of German Romanesque and Byzantine styles. The church has two cylindrical side-towers, which were built to unite the construction to the buildings on either side. The interior has no holy images - as prescribed by Valdese doctrine - while Christian symbols and floral motifs are seen in the windows. The church dates from the early 20th century, having been built shortly after the Valdese Faculty of Theology was created with its well-stocked library.
More »
Cimitero Protestante
This is a Protestant cemetery in a beautiful area. Several distinguished people are buried here: writer Daisy Miller, poet John Keats and his friend Joseph Severn. The ashes of Shelley, the remains of Antonio Gramsci and those of Goethe's son, Julius are also kept here. Get a map when you come in. Admission: Free
More »
Cinecittà
This is known as Hollywood on the Tevere; it had its golden age in the 1960s when great American film producers came to Rome, requiring use of the city's studios for their works. Cinecittà was founded in 1937 and many famous actors have walked through the entrance on Via Tuscolana: Fellini created his masterpieces here, Sergio Leone brought his spaghetti westerns to life in these studios and many of the industry greats have been on these sets. Cinecittà is at present enjoying a revival, playing host to several foreign productions. In the summer there are cinematography exhibitions, concerts and guided tours.
More »
Circo Massimo
In the 4th century B.C., the Circus Maximus was one of the largest stadia in Rome, with a capacity of 250,000 seated spectators. It was the venue for horse racing, athletics tournaments and animal fighting. The last races held there were in 549 A.D. Another very popular sport was marine battling: the arena was filled with water and fights between light boats took place. The tower is from medieval times.
More »
Colonna dell'Immacolata
The ancient Roman column became the base of a Christian monument in 1800. Pope Pius IX pronounced the creed of the Immaculate Conception and had a statue of the Madonna placed on the top of the column. Since then, the Immacolata is celebrated on 8 December, when a fireman climbs up to the statue and places a garland of flowers around her. In earlier times, Pope Pius himself would climb up to pay homage to the statue.
More »
Colonna di Marco Aurelio
This large column was erected after the death of Marcus Aurelius to commemorate his victories over the barbarians. The reliefs on the column illustrate battle scenes and soldiers escorting files of prisoners. It is similar in style to Constantine's arch and it is probable that the same artist worked on both. The statue of Marcus Aurelius on the tip of the column was replaced by one of St Paul of which copies can be seen at the Colonna Traiana
Trajan's Column stands between two seemingly twin churches - Santa Maria di Loreto and SS. Nome di Maria. It's 40 metres high overlooking the remaining columns of the ancient Ulpia basilica in Trajan's Forum. It is thought that the column was originally erected between two large libraries that were, with the terrace of Trajan's Temple and the terrace of the Ulpia basilica, places where Romans could admire the historical reliefs on the column. The column has resisted degradation superbly over the years - the spiral frieze illustrates the most important episodes in Trajan's successful expedition against the Dacians as well as showing the everyday lives of soldiers. On the top of the column (reached via a stairway inside) there is a bronze statue of St Peter sculpted by Tommaso della Porta which, it is thought, must have replaced one of the emperor himself.
More »
Colosseum
No visit to Rome is complete without having seen its magnificent Colosseum, a vast amphitheatre with seating for 55,000 that was designed as a horse racing circuit and arena for animal fighting and gladiatorial battles. Upon its completion, spectacular 100-day celebrations were organized as part of the opening ceremony in 72 AD. Its name is believed to come from Nero's enormous statue of Colossus that stood close by. The admission charges are about EUR10.
More »
Domus Aurea
After 15 years of restoration work, it is now possible to visit the remaining rooms of this immense palace, said to have been 25 times larger than the Esposizione Universale di Roma (EUR)
This suburb was created for an exhibition that was supposed to occur in 1942 but was abandoned due to the war. The architecture is fascinating - the buildings are a symbolic tribute to Fascism. It is worth a visit for this reason alone, but Museo della Civilta Romana adds to this area's appeal.
More »
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
The Fountain of the Four Rivers is in the centre of Piazza Navona. It was built between 1648 and 1651 from marble and travertine by Bernini. The fountain represents a large rock, which seems to emerge from the water on which an Egyptian obelisk from the Roman era stands. The rock is inhabited by allegorical animals and plants and decorated with the coat of arms of the Pamphili family. Four large statues represent rivers of the then-known areas of the world: the Danube for Europe, the Ganges for Asia, the Rio de la Plata for America, and the Nile for Africa. The last is covering its eyes so as not to see the iniquities taking place before it in the square, the commerce practised by merchants and tradesmen.
More »
Fontana del Tritone e Fontana delle Api
In the middle of the congested Piazza Barberini stands the Fountain of Triton, one of Bernini's finest. It shows the sea-god Triton carved into the centre of a shell. It was ordered by Pope Urban VIII Barberini, as was the other fountain in the square, the Fountain of the Bees. It takes its name from the bees of the Barberini coat of arms, sculpted into the fountain.
More »
Fontana dell'Acqua Felice
The fountain is known as Fontana Del Mosè due to the badly proportioned statue of Moses in the central arch and its amazing resemblance to the famous statue by Michelangelo. It was created as a finishing touch to the Acqua felice aqueduct, ordered by Felice Peretti, better known as Pope Sixtus V who introduced drinking water to this area. The two arches have reliefs on the side of scenes taken from the Old Testament, while the lions are copies of two Egyptian statues that are to be found in the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola
This huge fountain, built on the Janiculum at the beginning of the 17th century by Flaminio Ponzio and Giovanni Fontana, owes its name to Pope Paul V. It was erected so that the aqueduct, which Trajan had constructed, and which brought water from the Bracciano lake, could be reopened. Originally the fountain consisted of five small basins, but at the end of the 17th century Carlo Fontana created the one great basin, which is still in place today.
More »
Fontana della Navicella
The Navicella fountain is situated in front of the Fontana delle Tartarughe
This lovely fountain from the late 16th century was ordered by the Mattei family to Giacomo della Porta's design. The statues, on the other hand, are by Taddeo Landini. The turtles that gave their name to the fountain, the work of an anonymous sculptor, were added only a century later. Some think that their creator may even be Bernini, but the evidence is thin; it was perhaps one of his pupils, which would justify any similarities between this work and the work of the illustrious sculptor.
More »
Fontana di Trevi
Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the world's most beautiful city. Anita Ekberg's dip in it was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Earlier it was the setting for the award-winning "Three Coins in the Fountain" motion picture, ensuring its popularity worldwide. Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, it was completed in the second half of the 1700s. The statues in the centre represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop.
More »
Fontanella del Facchino
Many statues have been used in Rome to represent opinions conflicting opinions, and one of the most famous is that of Pasquino in the wall of the Banco di Roma and dates from the 16th c. It shows a man holding a barrel from which a jet of water spurts out. Many hypotheses have been put forward as to who the man is supposed to be: Martin Luther, a member of the Università degli Acquaroli or a certain Abbondio Rizzio, a famous and garrulous drinker.
More »
Fori Imperiali
Comprised of five distinct areas, the Imperial Forums is one of the largest archeological sites in the world where digging and research are still underway. Each of the smaller forums - the Forums of Caesar, Nerva, Trajan, Augustus, and the Temple of Peace - were constructed in Rome between 46 BC and 113 AD. The heart of the late Roman Republic and of the Roman Empire, each of these public squares served as centers of politics, religion, and economics.
More »
Foro Boario
The Foro Boario is located near the river, and some structures from the 2nd century BC are still visible. The Temple of Portunus was dedicated to the protector of rivers and ports; rectangular in shape, it is a mixture of Greek and Roman styles. The Temple of Hercules is circular in shape, similar to the Temple of Vesta in the Foro Romano
The Forum was designed to be the centre of social, political and economic life in the city. The innumerable remains include the well-conserved triumphal arch of Emperor Septimius Severus, with reliefs depicting his victories and the base of the Temple of Saturn with its eight columns and their splendid Ionic capitals. The 'Rostrum' is the famous platform from which Mark Antony gave his oration in Shakespeare's play after Julius Caesar's assassination. The platform became the setting for many important events in Rome's history. It was named the 'rostrum' after the bows of the ships that form the decorative motif. The Temple of Vesta was the home of the Vestal Virgins, charged with keeping the sacred flame alight. The circular foundations still remain, near to a garden in which traces of the House of the Vestal Virgins can still be seen. The Basilica of Constantine and Massentius was used as the court, and the three remaining barrel-vaulted naves give an idea of its gigantic structure. The Arch of Titus celebrates victories in Judea, and in the reliefs you can see the spoils of war, including an altar and a seven-armed chandelier.
More »
Fosse Ardeatine
Located behind the Galleria Borghese
This collection is housed in a building constructed in 1613 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, one of Bernini's greatest patrons. In fact, this great sculptor has exhibited some of his most famous sculptures here; amongst them is the renowned 'Apollo and Daphne.' When one thinks of the Museo Borghese, the sculpture that immediately springs to mind is Canova's 'Pauline Borghese,' in which she poses as Venus, wearing just a drape around her midriff. There are six major pieces by Caravaggio in the Galleria, including 'The boy with a basket of fruit' and the 'Madonna della Serpe.' Titian is also represented with 'Sacred and Profane Love,' Rafael with 'The Deposition,' and there are important works by Correggio. The gallery can only hold 300 visitors at a time, so it is advisable to book in advance.
More »
Galleria Colonna
This gallery is attached to Palazzo Colonna and is made up of six rooms, richly decorated with ceiling frescoes. Marcantonio Colonna's 'Apotheosis,' a powerful fresco, can be seen at the entrance. There are also two writing desks, which are marvellous works of art and well worth seeing. The first desk is decorated in semi-precious stone with bronze statuettes and the second is decorated with inlaid ivory. Not to be missed is Bronzino's piece entitled 'Venus and Cupid.' Unfortunately, this splendid gallery is only open once a week, but it is definitely worth visiting in order to see these unique pieces. There is no wheelchair access. Admission is EUR7 for adults.
More »
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
The palazzo was once the home of Pope Innocent X (Giambattista Pamphili), and now houses one of the most refined art collections in the capital. The most famous names in Renaissance art are represented. Amongst the most celebrated offerings is Titian's Salome, a work from the beginning of his career. Also included in the Italian wing are works by Caravaggio and Guercino, a portrait of two gentlemen by Raffaello, and the unfinished Allegory of Virtue by Correggio. There is a prevalence of Flemish names among the foreign artists, such as Brueghels and Pieter the elder.
More »
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica a Palazzo Corsini
This palazzo is a slice of Roman history. Bramante and Michelangelo sojourned here, and Queen Cristina of Sweden died in one of the palazzo's apartments in 1689. In 1736, the palace was completely transformed for the residency of Cardinal Corsini. Works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Murillo are on display, as well as Caravaggio's 'Narcissus'. Other artists include Guercino, with two paintings representing the Anunciation, and Fra Angelico's magnificent Triptych. The palazzo is also the seat of the Accademia dei Lincei, cultural training started in the XV century. Galileo Galilei was among one of its members. The palazzo was the backdrop for the clash between the papalists and the republicans in 1797 that saw the death of General Francese Duphot. Wheelchair access is available.
More »
Galleria Nazionale dell'Arte Moderna
The collection housed in this Neo-classical building includes works from the 19th and 20th centuries. The 19th century works are mostly those of the macchiaioli (Florentine impressionist painters), a similar movement to puntinismo (pointillism), a style based on the use of spots of colour to create paintings whose subjects were distinguishable only from a certain distance. Among the 20th century artists are works from De Chirico, Carrà, Sironi, Casorati, Marini and many others. The museum often organises temporary exhibitions and has its own shop. Disabled access from via Gramsci, 71.
More »
Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica a Palazzo Barberini
Designed for Pope Urban VIII by Italian architect Carlo Maderno in the early 17th century, and built on the site where the Villa Sforza once stood, the Palazzo Barberini is now home to an impressive collection of 13th - 16th century art. In addition to works by Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Raphael, and others, many of the lavish, rococo apartments of the palace, still decorated as they were back in the day, are on view.
More »
Galleria Spada
This is one of the most beautiful palazzi in Rome with its annex containing a splendid collection of Old Masters, including Caravaggio, Guercino, Brueghel the Elder, and Domenichino. Although not typically Roman, you can also admire Brueghel's Country Scene with Windmill, as well as Titian's The Musician. Don't miss Borromini's trompe l'oeil colonnade; it's 12 metres long but seems much longer.
More »
Ghetto (Il)
This area has been frequented by the Jewish community since the year 1000, thus the name "ghetto." It is full of archeological remains, dating to the medieval period and earlier. The significant monuments that can be seen include Octavia's Portico, built by Augustus for his sister, now incorporating the church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria. Cola di Rienzo was born in this area, and a plaque marks his birthplace in what was once Via della Fiumara. The Synagogue, with its square dome, is very different from the surrounding Roman city architecture, and on the wall of the riverside street there are slabs with inscriptions commemorating the death of the Jews in the Nazi concentration camps and at the Gianicolo
Offering a stunning view of the Roman skyline, Janiculum is the tallest hill in Rome. Set outside the boundaries of the ancient city, it does not figure as one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome, but has a rich history of its own. The hill served as center of the cult of the god Janus. It was also the site of an 1849 battle where the forces of Garibaldi held off attacking French troops. Now offering a far more peaceful atmosphere, Janiculum is home to botanical gardens, a baroque fountain, and the church of San Pietro in Montorio, built upon the site at one time thought to be where St. Peter was crucified.
More »
Il Sepolcro degli Scipioni
This is one of the oldest and best-conserved funerary monuments, dating back to 400 B.C. It is inspired by the architecture of Greek theatres, and consists of a series of galleries that contain the tombs of Scipio Asiaticus and Scipio Hispanus. There is also a sarcophagus with the remains of the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbato. This burial monument was discovered by chance, when the owners decided to dig a cellar and discovered stones with Latin inscriptions and the intact sarcophagi. The tomb had room for about thirty sarcophagi, namely the entire Scipio family from between 400 and 300 B.C. There are also statues of Scipio Africanus, Asiaticus and others.
More »
Insula Romana
Alongside the steps of Aracoeli are the remains of this 'apartment block' built about 2000 years ago, providing homes for poorer people who lived in difficult conditions. Just the first six floors of the construction can be seen: it is believed to have been higher, with space for perhaps 400 people. The top three floors were partly used in the Middle Ages for the construction of a church. In the 1940s, a renovation operation uncovered three lower floors. Admission: Phone or fax for permission
More »
Isola Tiberina
Tiberina Island is linked to the banks of the river by two bridges, the Fabricio and Cestio. Today, in order to protect Tiberina from the current, the 'bows' have been extended right up to one of the pillars of the Garibaldi bridge. Some ancient buildings can still be seen, like the Caetani tower dating to the Middle Ages, and the church of San Bartolomeo that was built on the site of the temple of Esculapius. Unfortunately nothing is left of the 10th century church as it was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century.
More »
Keats-Shelley House
Situated next to the Spanish Steps, Piazza de Spagna 26 was the house where John Keats spent the last few months of his life in his fatal battle with consumption. Now serving as a shrine to the life works of Keats and the other Romantic poets, the museum offers an extensive collection of paintings, objects, and manuscripts. The extensive library, books of which may be consulted by request only, includes a reliquary containing a lock of Milton and Elizabeth Barrett's hair, a manuscript and poem by Oscar Wilde, and beautifully bound first editions and letters by Wordsworth, Robert Browning, Joseph Severn, and Charles and Mary Cowden-Clarke.
More »
Lido di Ostia
Ostia is the beach for Romans who want to escape the big city heat. In summer, the population of the beach resort doubles, as locals and tourists fill the restaurants (whose specialities are, of course, seafood-based). The Via delle Baleniere, the main street, is where you will find delicious home-made ice cream in dozens of imaginatively named flavours. Some pastry-shops near the beach still sell the famous Bomboloni con la Crema, fried doughnuts that are shot out of the fryer like a missile into a container with caster sugar. At night, there are discotheques and open-air parties. In winter, contrary to other seaside towns, Ostia remains lively.
More »
LunEur
Rome's largest fairground was opened 30 years ago. It has something for everyone with a ferris wheel that allows for great views over the whole area, a roller coaster, a haunted house, etc. Kiosks sell candyfloss and the popular Grattachecca in summer. Of course there are the booths for testing your strength and skills but beware: most of these are a rip-off!
More »
Madama Lucrezia
This is an example of a 'talking statue'; one that used to represent opinions that were counter to the dominant power. This one is unique because it is of a woman, Madama Lucrezia, who was well-known to Alfonso of Aragon, the king of Naples. She came to Rome after the death of the king as a guest of Cardinal Pietro Barbo. The people of Rome named the statue in honour of her beauty.
More »
Madonnelle Romane
Walking through the streets of historic Rome, you often see little altars on the corners of the buildings, with images of the Madonna. They are, in fact, known as 'madonnelle' and they have been popular since the Middle Ages. The oldest of these small monuments trace the history of the various districts, of the Virgin cult, and celebrate local miracles. There are probably about a hundred of these 'madonnelle' in Rome, mostly in the older districts like Trevi, Parione, Regola and Sant'Eustachio. Every altar bears an inscription explaining the reason for this little votive monument.
More »
Markets of Trajan
This is probably the oldest shopping centre in the world. Built by the Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century A.D, it consisted of 150 offices and shops selling food, flowers, jewellery and wool. The finest shops were decorated with mosaics depicting the merchandise on sale. Today the shops are intact, but empty, even though, when the wine-shops were rediscovered, they were full of amphorae of wine. The offices on the floor above organised the distribution of free rations of grain to the citizens of Rome.
More »
Mascherone (Il)
The fountain on Mausoleo di Augusto
The construction of this large tomb was undertaken by Octavian in 29 BC. It was known as the Mausoleum right from the start and was built to glorify the name and memory of Octavian and to hold the remains of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (which included Nero and Julia, the daughter of Augustus). Excavations were begun in 1936 and were completed in 1938 when the monument was finally uncovered, albeit in very poor condition. It is circular and has lost all its decoration over time. The entrance was preceded by two obelisks (now in Piazza del Quirinale and Piazza Esquilino). The first to be buried in the tomb was Marcellus who was followed by Agrippa, Drusus the elder and younger, Livia, and Tiberius. Augustus was buried there in 14 AD and Caligula had his mother Agrippina and his brothers and sisters buried there too.
More »
Mercato Rionale in Via Cola di Rienzo
The local market is held around Piazza dell'Unità on Via Cola di Rienzo. It covers the block from Via Fabio Massimo to the Unità Square. The 1928 building was constructed in neoclassical style in white and pale yellow. The main facade has an enormous arched entrance supported by two Doric columns and symmetrical to the one at the back on Via Dei Gracchi. Two small fountains against the walls to the sides of the entrance act as decorations. They have two basins, one above the other, and are housed in decorated niches. Large coats of arms can be seen above the fountains.
More »
Monumento a Garibaldi
This part of the Gianicolo is partly dedicated to the events leading up to Italian unification, when Garibaldi's troops were fighting the French soldiers in the first half of the 19th century. This equestrian statue of Garibaldi was sculpted in the late 19th century by Emilio Galloni, and the base depicts episodes in the battle along with allegorical figures. Along Viale Aldo Fabrizi there is another statue, dedicated to Anita Garibaldi, created in 1932 by Mario Rutelli. The base of this statue forms the tomb of the Brazilian wife of Garibaldi, 'hero of the two worlds'.
More »
Monumento a Giordano Bruno
Giordano Bruno was sent to the pyre in Campo dei Fiori in February 1600. It was not, unfortunately, the only execution to take place on the site but was certainly the most famous. A monument dedicated to the philosopher and designed by Ettore Ferrari was raised in the centre of the square in 1887. The statue is made from bronze and stands on a stone base decorated with scenes from the life of Bruno as well as other figures from history described as heretics, including Erasmus, Tommaso Campanella, Paolo Sarpi, and Luther. Bruno is shown standing covered and hooded by a long cloak; the book in his hand is perhaps symbolic of his theories and ideas which were daring for the time and resulted in his terrible death.
More »
Monumento a San Francesco d'Assisi
The statue of St Francis of Assisi stands to the right of the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano on a large base made from peperino stone. It is seven metres tall and was made by the sculptor Tonnini in 1925 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the saint's death. St Francis has his arms held out wide to symbolically embrace St John while being surrounded by the bronze figures of his own disciples. The location of the monument is visually important between San Giovanni and the basilica of Mura Serviane
The Mure Serviane take their name from the mythical sixth king of Rome, Servius Tullius, to whom legend attributes the building of these walls. In fact, it has been historically proven that these walls, which ran for 11 kilometres around the Quirinale, Esquilino and Viminale hills, were built around halfway through the 4th century BC, exactly when this Latin king reigned. The most imposing remains of the fortifications can be seen near Termini station, but you can see other sections of them in the church of Santi Quattro Coronati, on Viale Aventino, near Teatro Marcello, and elsewhere. It also seems that the blocks of tufa found at Santa Sabina and near the Terme di Diocleziano belonged to the same fortifications.
More »
Musei dell'Università (University Museums)
The museums described below are found within the University City and are open weekday mornings. The Museum of Italian and Etruscan Antiquities can be found in the Department of Historical Science, Archaeology and Anthropology of Antiquity in the Faculty of Literature. It describes, with the use of models and graphics, the Italian people before the Romans, with special emphasis on the Etruscans and the people of the nearby areas. The Museum of Classical Art is in the same department. Approximately 1000 plaster moulds dating back to the Archaic age are exhibited in around 50 rooms, a little along the lines of the two rooms in the Victoria and Albert museum where replicas of famous sculptures are kept. Nearby is the Museum of Origins which retraces the phases of the Stone Age with finds from collections throughout the world. Walking towards the department of Human and Animal Biology you will arrive at the museum of Anthropology, which contains artefacts from all the over the world including documented human skeletal remains. Fossil skulls found in Rome of the Neanderthal period 120,000 years ago are kept in the Faculty of Mathematical Science, Physics and Natural Science. In the department of Vegetable Biology more than a million dried vegetables, still totally intact, are displayed on cards. It is considered one of the best European collections. Near the department of Earth Science is the Museum of Mineralogy which houses stones and minerals, such as sapphires in their full range of colours, emeralds and other gems as well as small meteorites that have fallen to earth. The tour ends with the Museum of Palaeontology in the same department which boasts a series of fossils millions of years old. Amongst the finds on display is the skeleton of an elephant discovered in a forest. The university contains other small and interesting museums. A list can be obtained from the secretary. Admission: free
More »
Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museums)
A trip to Rome would not be complete without a visit to the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums are a series of galleries, exhibit halls, and other display places, housing some of the finest art treasures in the world. Actually, it is around 40 separate display areas presenting works from ancient Egypt and Rome, relics of the Etruscan civilization, and most famously, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Plan to spend a day (or more!) delighting in the rich artistic history of humanity. Entrance Fee: EUR 12; students up to 26 years EUR 8. Refer to the website for opening and closing times, as they vary daily. More »
Museo Barracco
The Palazzo della Piccola Farnesina, built in 1523, houses the Barracco museum, formed from a collection of pre-Roman art sculptures, Assyrian bas-reliefs, Attic vases, Egyptian hieroglyphics and exceptional Etruscan and Roman pieces. The collection was put together by Senator Baracco whose statue can be admired in the palazzo's inner courtyard. It's a fairly new museum-- the works on display were donated in the early 20th century. No wheelchair access available. Admission is EUR2.50.
More »
Museo d'Arte Ebraica
Entrance to the museum is complemented by a visit to the nearby synagogue. Some of the magnificent objects on display include crowns, silverware, Torahs, and tallits (the shawls that Jews wear during prayers.) One section shows the persecution the Jews have endured through the 2000 years of their history. There are copies of the Papal edict that banned Jews from certain activities during the 16th century, and accounts of the Nazi horrors in the concentration camps. The ticket to the museum includes a visit to the nearby synagogue facing the Tiber, which was built in 1870. Admission EUR4; EUR2.50 for school children.
More »
Museo degli Strumenti Musicali
Founded on the site of the great Imperial villa, Sessorianum, once belonging to Empress St. Helena, the Museo degli Strumenti Musicali boasts a collection of more than 3,000 musical instruments. While the exhibit includes instruments from all over the world from different time periods, the biggest part of the collection is Baroque, including a beautiful Barberini harp, and one of the first pianos ever made, crafted by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1722.
More »
Museo dei Bambini
This hands-on science museum is much like the interactive children's museums that are so popular in places like London and Boston. Here visitors are encouraged to touch the displays and the various gadgets while exploring the world of science and technology. This hands-on approach makes learning fun and creates an environment perfect for families and school groups.
More »
Museo dell'Alto Medioevo
This museum covers the period between the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance. The collection includes extremely valuable finds, such as swords made of engraved silver and gold, buckles and tack for horses, alongside more frivolous items like jewelry with painted ceramic pearls and what can only be called the first European collapsible seat. Religious works depicting Celtic designs engraved in stone and rich embroidery from the garments worn by medieval priests are well worth seeing.
More »
Museo della Civiltà Romana
Experience Rome through the eyes of Constantine with a visit to the Museo della Civila Romana, and its immense scale model of the city at its fourth-century peak. This museum is located alongside government offices in the Esposizione Universale di Roma (EUR), a suburb south of Rome that was built for an international exhibition in 1942 that never took place due to the war. Impressive casts of the reliefs on Trajan's column are also on display.
More »
Museo delle Anime dei Defunti
This museum is a little macabre, but after the initial surprise you find it has a mystical atmosphere. The items on show represent handprints left on prayer books by individuals now deceased. An amazing item is the incandescent print of a German nun, which was left on the tunic of one of her colleagues in 1696. The collection was begun in the 20th century and aims to show sceptics that there is life after death.
More »
Museo delle Cere
This wax museum recreates historical scenes such as Leonardo da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa surrounded by the Medici family and Macchiavelli. Another scene shows Mussolini's last Cabinet meeting. There is of course a chamber of horrors with a garrotte, a gas chamber and an electric chair.
More »
Museo di Palazzo Venezia
One of the most important collections of medieval and renaissance art is held in this renaissance palace. There are renaissance paintings, painted wooden sculptures and chests from all over Italy, tapestries from elsewhere in Europe, Neapolitan ceramics, silverware, suits of armour, and 17th and 18th century paintings. One of the most dramatic pieces is a 13th century enamelled Byzantine Christ. There are also terracotta studies by Bernini for construction of the Triton fountain and the decoration of Castel Sant'Angelo.
More »
Museo Napoleonico
The collection was created by Count Primoli, the last descendant of the Primoli family. It includes portraits of Napoleon, and displays some of his personal items, such as the Indian scarf he wore during exile on St Helena. Besides uniforms and family portraits, there are plaster studies by Canova who immortalised Napoleon's sister, Pauline, in the famous statue on display in the Museo Nazionale d'Arte Orientale
Located in the Palazzo Brancaccio, the National Museum of Oriental Art features historic art exhibits from across Asia, including prehistoric Iranian ceramics, Chinese screen paintings, Japanese jade, and sculpture from sites across the middle east. One of the museum's biggest highlights are the 3rd century BC to 10th century AD reliefs uncovered in northeast Pakistan that reflect a unique combination of Hellenistic, Hindu, and Buddhist influences.
More »
Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari
Italy's most famous food, pasta, has been granted a museum of its own. On entry, the visitor is given a portable CD player that explains all the exhibits in Italian, English, French, German and Japanese. The collection includes pasta making machines from the distant past to modern times, and prints and photos of people, whether famous or not, tucking into a good plate of pasta.
More »
Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia
This splendid Renaissance villa, built for Pope Giulio III, houses an important collection of Etruscan treasures found mainly in graves and tombs. The Tomb of the Newlyweds is one of the most famous pieces here, and was probably designed to contain the remains of a couple. There is a reconstruction of a temple in the garden, illustrating the Etruscans' love of detail. The water garden in front of the museum decorated with mosaics, fountains, and statues, and the frescoes inside the colonnaded loggia are worth noting. A recent piece is a 5th century terracotta relief, which shows the Grecian influence on Etruscan art.
More »
Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico Luigi Pigorini
A reference point for students visiting the capital, there's a large collection of Italian prehistoric and proto-historic artefacts here, as well as a sizeable ethnographic collection from outside Europe. There are many guided tours, informative descriptions, pictures and reconstructions, all designed to interest children.Admission: 4 EUR; free for children. More »
Museo Nazionale Romano
Housed in a palatial Renaissance residence, the Admission: 5 EUR. More »
Navigando sul Tevere
The journey lasts about an hour and a half and goes along part of the Tiber river, under the historical bridges of Rome, starting from Umberto I Bridge and arriving at Duca d'Aosta Bridge: it offers a very different, quite enchanting view of the capital.
More »
Obelisco di Monte Citorio
Augustus positioned this obelisk in 10 BC in Campo Marzio, and it was used as the pointer for a sundial that unfortunately became inaccurate after just 50 years. For centuries it remained unused in the square, and then disappeared: it was rediscovered five centuries later, covered by other ancient structures. Another 300 years passed before the obelisk was at last re-erected in its present position in front of Palazzo di Montecitorio. It came from Heliopolis in Egypt, and it is covered with hieroglyphs that were thought, during the 16th century, to be the key revealing the mystery of the wisdom of Adam before he was driven out of the Garden of Eden.
More »
Obelisco Vaticano
In the centre of Orto Botanico
This lovely garden is filled with 7000 exotic flowers from all over the world. The collection of marvelously coloured orchids is probably the centrepiece of the entire gardens, which were at one time part of Palazzo Corsini. The stepped fountain with a composition of flowers is very picturesque.
More »
Ostia Antica
For at least 600 years this was a busy port, but the area declined suddenly following a reduction in commerce, and the onset of malaria. Covered by sand and mud that accumulated over the centuries, it was perfectly preserved and has therefore survived intact. The Baths of Cisiarii and the Baths of Neptune can be seen, with their lovely black and white mosaic floors. The theatre has been restored, a series of large masks having been set on to blocks of rock that originally adorned the building. Leaving the main street, you reach the areas where the inhabitants used to live, the style of the homes differing according to whether the residents were workers, or traders and shippers. Workmen and sailors lived in "insule", like present day blocks of flats, while the richer classes had fine homes decorated with colourful mosaics and statues. The remains that have been discovered are exhibited in the museum nearby, which also displays bas-reliefs and objects connected to the cult of Mithra, very popular in Imperial Rome. Admission: EUR 5
More »
Palatine (The)
Just south of the Palazzo Altemps
After 15 years of restoration, the Renaissance Palazzo Altemps has reopened. The lovely Ludovisi collection, at the Museo Nazionale Romano with many figures of mythological heroes can once more be admired. Much of the statuary is Roman but produced in Greek style. Some works are 2000 years old. The Ludovisi throne showing the birth of Venus is the most famous of the statues.Ticket prices: 5 EUR + 1 EUR for booking; free of charge for minors and seniors. More »
Palazzo del Quirinale
Construction of the Palazzo del Quirinale began in the late 16th century, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, who chose the top of this hill as the location for the new papal residence. Various architects contributed to the design, including Carlo Maderno who devised the chapel, Bernini to whom one of the wings was entrusted, and Pietro da Cortona who decorated parts of the interior. It later became a royal palace, and is now the residence of the President of the Republic. The lovely garden is open to visitors.
More »
Palazzo delle Esposizioni
This palazzo with its statues and Corinthian columns, designed by Piacentini, hosts temporary exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and graphics, which are changed every three months. There is also a small cinema that shows foreign-language films and the occasional theatrical performance. In addition, there is a well-stocked bookshop, a design shop, a bar and a restaurant on the terrace. Next to the complex is the Visual Arts Research and Documentation Centre, an archive that contains data on contemporary Italian and international art.
More »
Palazzo Farnese
Great artists collaborated on the construction of Palazzo Farnese - Antonio da Sangallo was the first, having been commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. Other contributors were Giacomo della Porta, and the great Michelangelo who redesigned the upper floors to make the palace taller and built the amazing cornice. The palace had already been enlarged in 1534 when Cardinal Farnese became Pope Paul III. On his death his two sons, Ranuccio and Odoardo, added more decoration inside to make the building yet more magnificent. When the Farnese family died out in the mid-18th c. the palace fell into decline and was only saved from further neglect when it became the French embassy in 1874. The embassy still resides in the palace and recently the main façade was restored.
More »
Palazzo Venezia
Construction of this palace begun in 1455 for the Venetian cardinal, Pietro Barbi, who made it his residence. Construction of the first palace was completed shortly before his election to the Papacy in 1464 when he adopted the name Paul II. He then decided to amplify the palace and make it a dwelling worthy of a pope. The work continued until 20 years after the Pope's death and it underwent architectural transformations on several occasions over the centuries. In 1916 it was confiscated by the state of Italy which decided to make it the Palazzo Zuccari
The palace in which the hero of Gabriele D'Annunzio's most famous novel, Il Piacere (The Pleasure), lived was 14, Piazza Trinità dei Monti. The building is known as Palazzo Zuccari after its first owner, painter Federico Zuccari, who also designed it. Besides being his house, he also used it as a painting studio, and it later became the home of the Academy of Arts and Design. The palace was built at the end of the 16th c. but has undergone numerous restorations and alterations over time. It was lived in by the Toscanelli family during the 17th c. and, a century later was let to Maria Casimira of Poland. For a short period, it was an inn and used as a meeting place for foreign artists in Rome. During the 1900s Nicoletta Hertz made it the home of the Hertzian Library that mostly contained volumes relating to the history of art, following which it was let to the German government. The decoration of the façade on Via Gregoriana -particularly the door and windows- are what first strikes the viewer: it was designed to resemble the face of a monster with the door as an open mouth and above it a large nose, two eyes and ears. Indeed, this façade is similar to that of Villa Orsini di Bomarzo near Viterbo.
More »