Famous Museums in Rome

Almost every major city in Italy has a famous museum and Rome is no different. From ancient to modern, the city boasts a wealth of great museums that tell the Eternal City’s rich and often complicated story. The best part of this is that some of the most famous museums in Rome are free to visit – perfect for those on a tight budget!

The Accademia delle Belle Arti is one of the most famous museums in Rome. The museum houses a fantastic collection of sculptures including the Ludovisi Collection compiled by a nephew of Pope Gregory XV. The museum isn’t cluttered so you get plenty of space to admire each piece. Highlights include the Apollo the Lyrist, Ludovisi Athena, the Ludovisi Throne and the Gallic Soldier and his Wife Committing Suicide.

Another of the most famous museums in Rome is the National Etruscan Museum (Museo Nazionale delle Sculpture Etruscane di Villa Giulia). This museum has an incredible collection of Etruscan art and is located within the Borghese Gallery park complex. Must-see pieces include the terra-cotta statue of Apollo and the Lamine di Pyrgi, three gold sheets inscribed in both Etruscan and Phoenician language that were found during excavations of an ancient seaport.

Many of the most famous museums in Rome have impressive collections of Renaissance and Baroque artwork. The Museo e Galleria Borghese is one of the most impressive and boasts sensational sculptures as well as important paintings by Raphael, Caravaggio and Titian.