Capitoline Museums Castles, Palaces & Historic Buildings
The World's First Museum
Rome,
00186
Italy
+39 06 6710 2475
+39 06 678 5488 
http://www.museicapitolini.org
info.museicapitolini@comune.ro..
Transport Options:
Train Available: Colosseo
Overview
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 BCE to which the twins Romulus and Remus were added by Antonio del Pollaiolo during the Renaissance.Open Hours
Tu to Su from 09:00 AM to 08:00 PM
great place and huge. interesting mix of old Roman and Middle Ages. put aside time to really take it all in.....read as much of the desciptions as possible. very enjoyable experience.....remember there are 3 floors/levels to the museum. enjoy!
As other reviewers have mentioned, the museum has some fantastic exhibits. Outside of the exhibits, two other things stand out. First, from the musuem you can go out onto a balcony that overlooks the Forum. This is the perfect location for snapping photos of the Forum with the Colisseum in the background - very impressive. Second, there is a roof-top seating area for the snack bar. Wow! - you can see great views of Rome from up there, it's worth the price of admission just to go up onto the roof. Highly recommended.
Don't miss the she-wolf, the head and hand parts of Constantine's statues in the yard (it has been really enormous). The Marcus Aurelius statue is a must see too, the original is inside, a copy is in the square. The view of the Foro Romano and Coloseo from the left wing is another must see
excellent museum of Roman antiquities situated in square designed by Michelangelo
After walking through the Forum, climb the steep steps up to the back of the Capotiline Hill. The square has a magnificent bronze equestrian statute of Hadrian and a staute of Roma. Inside the two museums (one ticket for both) you can see many centuries of Roman and Italian art, from Roman busts and the original statute of Romulus and Remus suckling the she-wolf, to paintings of Caravaggio and others. The rooms are wonderful, as are the views. The European Constitution was just signed here in October 2004. The Roman antiquities are breath taking- the Dying Gaul and Aphrodite, St. Helen and all the Roman emperors, and the partial remains of a colossal statue of Constantine in the courtyard. If you have time for only one Roman musuem, this should be it!
