Great views of the city. Does charge for the best views, but probably worth it at sunsetread more

So, we went to the Borghese the day before and were surprised the second floor was closed...I…read morelooked online to see what the reason for the closure was and found it was due to renovations but....many of the works were moved here - the National Art Gallery at the Palazzo Barberini. And....if you had tickets from the Borghese your cost to get in here was just 5€ with no advance purchase needed.... We walked over and not on,y was the internet correct that we could get in for 5€ by showing our tickets from the Borghese, but NO ONE WAS HERE!!!! It was amazingly uncrowded and quiet..in September...in Rome...there is an amazing amount of fabulous art here and everyone is crowded into a few museums....and this isn't one of them, so I highly recommend a trip here if you want a break from the crowds. The museum is huge...we thought this was maybe a 1 hour activity but we were here several hours. The works from the Borghese were indeed here, but we saw so much more too. Staff were relaxed and friendly; I think they were also benefiting from the smaller crowds. Be ready to put all bags and water bottles into lockers. They take a 1€ coin that you get back when you pick up your items. The kind guard had some extra coins to loan to guests who like us didn't have change. Definitely don't miss this less crowded, and amazing museum.

Beautiful spot in Rome city centre...we passed it on the way to our restaurant for dinner on my…read morework trip

The Capitoline Museum exhibits medieval art to ancient statues, and you can discover ancient Rome…read morehistory here. There are quite a few statues shouldn't be missed, such as Statue of Capitoline Venus, Bust of Medusa, Colossus of Constantine, The Capitoline She-wolf etc. The regular admission ticket cost €13, and I think it's totally worth it.

There are a million things to do when you are in Rome & going to a museum is probably the last…read morething on your list given all the alternative awesome sightseeing options! Hubby & I always try to do three things in a new city: museum, sports event & something on the water. We figured that visiting the Colosseum was a good enough version of a sports event. We were returning from a 12-day cruise. So, next up on the list was checking out a museum. Thankfully, we were at a hotel that was around the corner from the Museo Nazionale Romano. It is a series of buildings around the Piazza della Repubblica. And as it turns out, on the first Sunday of the month, the Museo is free to the public (note: you must "purchase" tickets online in advance for a specific time to enter). This Museo feels like stepping straight into the heart of ancient Rome. The collection is extraordinary - from the iconic Discus Thrower to hauntingly lifelike statues that practically make eye contact with you. The level of detail is unreal & half the time it feels like the sculptures are standing at your height just waiting to start a conversation! The galleries are spacious, beautifully laid out & surprisingly calm compared to the big-name tourist spots. It's the perfect place to take your time, wander & really soak in the artistry. Frescoes, mosaics, portraits - every floor has something jaw-dropping (including -1 and -2!). What truly blew my mind were the tile mosaics displayed & then shown in their original settings. Seeing them arranged exactly as they would have appeared in ancient villas gives you this incredible, immersive peek into everyday Roman life. It's like stepping right into history rather than just looking at it behind glass. If you're in Rome & want an unforgettable museum experience without the crowds, do not skip this one. Palazzo Massimo is a treasure chest of ancient beauty! Highly recommend.

One of the great museums of the world. The only museum of Roman culture that even comes close is…read morethe Pompeii-archeological museum in Naples. This place is not to be missed, along with the Villa Borghese and pamphilij palace, for single places in Rome.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

Gorgeous gallery that is completely under the radar. For…read moresomething so beautiful, I thought it would be packed with people, but it wasn't. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy the details of each room without being swarmed by tourists. While at the gallery, stop by their restaurant located at the front of the entrance. Do note that you should make reservations at the restaurant or you likely won't get in. This gallery is definitely worth a visit.

The Borghese Museum houses an unmatched collection of Italian baroque and renaissance masterpieces…read more Artworks by Bernini and Caravaggio are among their popular pieces and a whole lot more including sculptures. Not to miss pieces are Bernini's marble sculptures - Apollo & Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina. Canova's neoclassical Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix and Carravaggio's painting - David with the Head of Goliath. We came in immediately after checking in to our hotel for a 4pm timed entry. Reservation is a must. Bought our tickets a month in advance back in 2023. This was still early on after covid so restrictions still apply. I love how we were able to savor every moment we spent here because it wasn't congested at all. From the outside, it was a beautiful building in a magnificent park. I would call this a hidden gem in Rome. Borghese museum is a must go to when in Rome. The time we spent was good enough. During that time, there weren't a lot of people as they control the number of people entering the museum. Definitely 5 thumbs up. August 2026

I didn't know that this museum is so popular and that you must purchase your tickets in advance…read more Luckily, I was able to purchase tickets before our trip to Rome, but they had only a limited number of tickets available for the time that we were going to be there. So if you are planning on going to Galleria Borghese, make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. We visited the Borghese in the afternoon during the week, and I think that was a great idea because it was pretty empty, and we had yet another chance to see everything with almost no one around. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if we got lucky. Either way, I was able to take my time to look at all the beautiful art pieces. Everything was so beautiful. I recommend going to this museum if you have the time; it's definitely worth it.

Vittoriano, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland. The Monument…read moreto king Victor Emmanuel II was built starting in 1885, designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, and inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate the 50th. See it as you walk around downtown Rome.

This building was right down the road from our hotel and we passed it a number of times. It is…read morebeautiful with nice statues on the front and back of building. I climbed up the back of building and caught the sunset.

Trajan's Market is an archaeological complex considered to be Rome's first shopping mall…read more The complex, with six levels, is huge and lends a sense of wonder, yet again, at ancient Roman ingenuity. Find it on Via dei Fori Imperiali.

We we walking by and saw the entrance and decided to go. It was $14 euro each and well worth it…read more The inside museum had so much to see and was a bit cooler for a hot day. It had 5 levels of areas to go to. Plenty of outside areas to look at. The outside grounds were incredible. We probably spent around an hour or so here. Great views of Roma and makes for some great photo spots. Downside a lot of steps. But like I said well worth it. This should be one of the top things to see in Roma and it wasn't even crowed. Probably like 50 people at most. So much better than fighting crowds of thousands at the Colosseum. Seriously, check this place out.

Very cool. Plenty of art and amazing rooms. Our English-speaking guide was very knowledgeable and…read morefriendly. It was amazing to stand right where Hepburn stood in "Roman Holiday" last scene.

This place is amazing- but the timing is weird. They're open on Saturday- and in December, when we…read morewere there, for just a few hours. I actually got to the gift shop before the museum closed, but they were counting the money and would not sell me the book I wanted- so shop first, maybe, just in case. The interior is stunning- and DO get a guide. Ours was Massimo and he was excellent. His English was superb, and he was one of the best guides we had in Rome. The collection is eclectic and outstanding- as is the architecture. As you walk through this place you can't help thinking- it must be great to be this rich. The family still live in another wing, or adjoining building. We did not see the gardens- and it turns out we would not have had time, but we did see the collection and the Prince's Apartments. There's an Egyptian temple in the garden- so it sounds like that would be worth seeing. It wasn't cheap- for the two of us it was 50 euro, 25 each, but it was worth it- and the family has certainly done wonderful restoration work. Kudos to them for amassing these works and keeping them safe for generations to enjoy. Do make sure you note all the gorgeous crystal and Venetian glass chandeliers! They are so beautiful. And the works of art are too numerous to list here- but the Bruegels were a favorite of mine as were the fabulous cabinets- one of hardstones and one of ebony and ivory- and OMG, the entrance hall. Way to stun your guests- which was the intention. The Bean Eater is one of my favorite paintings, as well as the angels in one room- which I think the guide said were of the Raphaelite school. But there are so many wonderful paintings here- many brought in a marriage bargain! And you will love the stories. I have great sympathy for the woman who loved the court of Louis XIV, but had to come to Rome for a marriage, had 3 children, and then ran off trying to get back to France. I guess she was confined twice in a nunnery (escaped the first time.) You'll see her statue. And you'll also see modern pictures of the family- which is quite nice. This was a highlight of our trip- and so unexpected! Pay the money and see it- truly, it is worth it. It's simply astounding what hundreds of years of money can buy!

We experienced this landmark as a passenger on a bus. There was no cost to observe the landmark and…read morewe spent less than 15 minutes as we drove by the place of interest. The atmosphere was low key as people were walking around the area. While there were people there, it wasn't crowded. The location is best for people who enjoy architecture, history, and visiting the landmarks of a city.

The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II is hard to miss, and we stopped here on our way back from the…read moreColosseum. We ended up taking our time walking around the building and the square around it, because at every corner there was something that made us stop for a second look. The whole area is a dream for anyone who enjoys history. Even though it's an enormous, modern structure compared to the ancient ruins nearby, it plays a major role in Italy's story as it honors Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. The bright white marble, the long staircases, the huge bronze statues, and the views from the terraces all add to its presence. Inside is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which gives the monument a more solemn side. We were both exhausted by the time we got there, but still didn't want to rush it. The only thing missing is more signs explaining what you're looking at; there's so much detail and so much history layered into one place. Still, it was a great experience and well worth the time to explore.

Absolutely phenomenal museum…read more One not to be missed. And with 5% of the tourists of Rome's other museums, and no wait to get in line. There is no downside. * * * GNAM is the nineteenth and twentieth century art museum of Rome. If you want stuff that was painted yesterday, there are galleries of 21st century art around town. Enjoy at your peril. Everything in GNAM that was painted or sculpted before 1960 is an absolute masterpiece. And there is a lot of lively stuff in the newer material too. It is easy to forget in a city with all of the Roman antiquities, all of the medieval treasures and Rome's fantastic legacy of Renaissance and Baroque art, That Italy was just as talented in the 19th and 20th centuries as it was in the previous periods. Our "standard" art histories moves European Art history of the 1800s and 1900s to France. Italy could go toe to toe with France on every artistic movement that occurred after Napoleon and this includes Romanticism, Impressionism and Modernism. There are paintings in GNAM that fully anticipate every formal innovation of impressionism. They were painted in the 1860s and 1870's. Monet and Renoir would be "inventing" impressionism thirty years later. The nineteenth century working class realism paintings of Courbet are blown away with the soulful depictions of working class life that were painted in Italy ... and yes twenty years before Courbet. There are night landscape paintings here that are darker and more intense than anything you could see in the Louvre. There is portraiture to die for - including my favorite "beautiful woman" painting of all time. * * * GNAM is huge, and excellent throughout. But there is one utterly amazing room that can fill your whole stay. If you go straight from the front door through a "seating gallery", you walk into an enormous room that is literally the size of a football field. The ceilings are sixty feet high. This is the primary room of the nineteenth century Romantic Era collection. Every single square millimeter of wall space is hung with paintings. You are looking at five or six paintings one on top of each other going up the wall all the way up sixty feet high and this being repeated every three yards for the entire room, all four walls. There are easily over 200 large paintings in this room - maybe closer to 300. There is not a loser or a boring painting anywhere in the room. And - to give a sense of the remarkable level of activity that Italy enjoyed in the Romantic Era, no artist is represented by more than two paintings. Most artists only have one selection. Thus you are looking at a room that is displaying between 100 and 150 different nineteenth century Italian artists - with each selection being one of the best paintings that artist ever created. The spectacle is mind-boggling. Close examination makes each painting better and better and better. There are all sorts of compositional subtleties, painterly tricks and psychological/philosophical subtexts in the works that only become apparent in a long viewing. Well over 80% of my visit to GNAM was spent in that one room. And even at that - I only saw about 1/5 of the paintings that are there. * * * This is a museum that will change your opinion about much of what you understand about art. Plan to come here. Plan to spend a lot of time here. This is one of the great collections of the world.

In a city full of Renaissance art, it was awesome to have a break of that to be able to enjoy some…read moremodern art and contemporary art. The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary has all that and more. It's a large museum and there is enough here for a half day of appreciation. I'm generally not a huge fan of "contemporary" art as it is usually political and many times, the message from the artist goes over my head. That was the case for a couple of the exhibits here. And then I found the "modern" art. Paintings by Gustave Courbet, Cy Twombly, and my very favorite, Piet Mondrian. Portraits by Giovanni Boldini. Sculpture by Ercole Dante. I got well and truly lost in the museum and before I knew it, it was time to go. Wonderful time. [Review 19190 overall - 345 in Italy - 160 of 2023.]