Palazzo Massimo alle Terme

Rome, Italy

The National Roman Museum is a museum with several branches in separate buildings throughout the city of Rome. Palazzo Massimo alle Terme houses part of the National Roman Museum, one of the world’s greatest collections of ancient art. It provides a magnificent showcase for some of the most beautiful paintings, mosaics and sculptures of the Roman age.

One room is devoted to the mummy that was found in 1964 on the Via Cassia, inside a richly decorated sarcophagus with several artefacts in amber and pieces of jewellery also on display. The ground and first floor has also sculptures of the period between the late Roman Republic and the early imperial period (2nd century BC to 1st century AD).

The second floor hosts frescoes, stucci and mosaics, including those from the villa of Livia, wife of Augustus. The frescoes, discovered in 1863 and dating back to the 1st century BC, show a luscious garden with ornamental plants and pomegranate trees.

The Museum's numismatic collection is the largest in Italy. Among the coins on exhibit are Theodoric’s medallion, the four ducats of Pope Paul II with the navicella of St Peter, and the silver piastre of the Pontifical State with views of the city of Rome.

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Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Museums in Italy

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Reed Brozen (43 days ago)
I popped in on first free Sunday since I was staying nearby. I had been once 15 years prior and remembered it as nice and well organized. It is. And it has several incredible pieces. Even better it had a unique show going on of Massimiliano Pelletti’s work, Versus. Go see it. He is prolific with most, if not all, of the works done in 2024. Creatively done copies of works and the ancient styles but in different sized and with different stone (including layered stone). A nice size that is easy to manage. You only need to commit an hour or two. Stunning mosaics and frescoes as well. I thought the Ermafrodito dormiente as well as The Resting Boxer were extraordinary. The labels and descriptions are also very well done.
Diana Skorinkina (2 months ago)
A really good museum, though it currently lacks an audioguide, and I couldn’t find one online either. That said, if you’re not too particular, the written plates with detailed stories are quite easy to follow. Unfortunately, the basement floor with coins is closed to tourists at the moment. The first two floors are filled with statues, showcasing the fascinating progression of ancient sculpture trends from 1 BC to 5 AD. For instance, you can observe the Greek influence on Roman statues, such as the trend of hiring Greek artisans to create copies of Greek originals. There’s also an interesting detail about the introduction of beards in Roman culture, inspired by the Greek tradition and adopted by the emperor who built the Pantheon (I am bad with names). The third floor was the highlight for me—a treasure trove of mosaics and entire painted walls transported from an ancient domus dating back to 1 BC. It was especially intriguing to read about the methods used to transport and preserve these painted walls. A truly enriching experience!
Calvin Chen (4 months ago)
A hidden gem kn the heart of Rome. Not many tourists, no need to reserve tickets. No queue when we came on a weekday afternoon. The museum is dedicated to the art and history of Ancient Rome spanning 500 BC to 500AD. Showcases many examples of Roman sculpture, paintings, mosaics, portraitures. I was pleasantly surprised to find several world renowned works like the Boxer at Rest and a copy of thr Discobolus in the halls, with little to no fanfare. Only 8 euros and a stone's throw away from Termini. Worth a stop!
Kyle Lawrence (4 months ago)
This museum was a nice break from the other crowded tourist areas. Close to the Roma Termini station, the museum consists of three floors and offers beautiful mosaics, frescoes, and sculptures. I enjoyed the various works and appreciated that it was small enough to learn about each piece. Most of the works have descriptions and explanations in English as well as Italian. And did I mention that it was not crowded at all? Pro tip: Tickets are easy to purchase, and I recommend getting the combo package, which allows one entry to each of the National Museums within a week.
Amanda Harig (5 months ago)
We were looking for an additional activity in our free time and stumbled upon this amazing museum! We were amazed at the sheer amount of rooms and information provided. You could easily spend half a day here and not get tired of the amazing sculptures and history. We are so glad we were able to stop by this museum and highly recommend visiting if you have time!
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