Rome
Lazio, Italy
The Eternal City – 2,000 extraordinary years of glory, greatness and triumph – and decadence, murder and destruction – evidenced by some of the world’s most iconic, must-see monuments and museums.
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Capitoline Museums
Piazza Campidoglio
Credit Shutterstock.com/StrippedPixel.com
Last updated: 26 June, 2023
Founded in 1471, the Capitoline Museums consist of three buildings packed with ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian statues. Not to be missed are the original gilded equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the copy of the sexy Capitoline Venus and Aphrodite of Cnidus, Bernini’s Head of Medusa and the Capitoline Wolf.
Capitoline Hill
Once the site of the Temple of Jupiter, Michelangelo redesigned the Capitol’s steps (the cordonata), the Palazzo Senatorio (City Hall), the palazzi housing the Capitoline Museums and the geometric flooring of the Piazza del Campidoglio.
Statue of Marcus Aurelius
In the Piazza del Campidoglio you’ll find the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Emperor from 121-180AD, he was the last of Rome’s ‘five great emperors’: respected, benevolent and moderate dictators under whose rule the Empire thrived. The Empire’s decline began with Aurelius’ death and the succession by Aurelius’ son, the neurotic Commodus.
Capitoline Wolf
Look out for this ancient Roman bronze statue of a she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, the traditional founders of the city and empire of Rome. The she-wolf is commonly used as the symbol of Rome.
Price from: £12
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest metro station is Colosseo. From there, it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk up Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Tickets can be bought online, or at the ticket office when you arrive. Guided tours are only for groups of five to 25 people, but audio guides are available for a small fee in multiple languages. You can also download a museum app on the IOS and Android stores.
After you’ve had your art fix, pop up to the Caffarelli Terrace, where the Capitoline Museum Cafeteria is open daily. Enjoy a spectacular view of Rome as you enjoy a snack or well-earned espresso.
When to do it
The museums are open all year round seven days a week.
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