The Museo Nazionale Romano is the national museum of the Eternal City. However, it is the only museum in Rome that is divided into four different sub-museums. These include the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, and the Balbi Crypt.
The Palazzo Massimo, which contains one of the richest archaeological collections of antiquity, is particularly popular. Some of the four museum complexes are located slightly apart.
The Baths of Diocletian can be wonderfully combined on foot with the Balbi Crypt, while the two magnificent palaces and their art collections are not far from each other.
The art museum was founded in 1889 and, alongside the Galleria Borghese and the Capitoline Museums, is one of the best museum addresses among Rome’s attractions. Since 1981, the palazzo has also been part of the Museo Nazionale Romano, used as a Jesuit college until 1960. The villa was built between 1883 and 1887.
Visitor Information:
Adress:
Palazzo Altemps: Piazza di Sant’Apollinare
Palazzo Massimo: Largo di Villa Peretti 2
Balbi Crypt: Via delle Botteghe Oscure 31
Baths of Diocletian: Via delle Terme di Diocleziano
Transportation:
Metro stop: Repubblica or Termini, line A.
Buses: C, H, 16, 36, 38, 40, 64, 86, 90, 92, 105, 157, 170, 175, 204, 217, 310, 360, 492, 590, 649, 714, 910
Opening hours of all 4 sub-museums:
Tuesday – Sunday: 09:00 to 19:30
Mondays: closed
Combined ticket to all 4 museums:
Baths of Diocletian | Palazzo Altemps | Palazzo Massimo | Crypta Balbi
Our tip:
With the Rome City Pass, you get free entry to the Museo Nazionale Romano, as well as entry to the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, and priority entry to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel!
Tickets Museo Nazionale Romano:
The highlights of the Museo Nazionale Romano
The Roman National Museum is particularly recommended if you are interested in the history of the Roman Republic and the early imperial period.
The art collection in the Museo Nazionale is well structured. Each of the four buildings has a separate art focus. The exhibition is divided into themes.
For example, you will find lots of ancient sculptures and meticulously crafted reliefs in the Palazzo Massimo, the most important of the four parts of the museum. However, there are also many more finds from contemporary history here.
The basement of the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme houses an extensive collection of Roman coins, jewels, and other valuables. One floor up, you can see Roman and Greek sculptures and fascinating sarcophagi.
However, the museum’s absolute landmark is the beautifully preserved wall frescoes that once adorned the Villa Farnesia in the Trastevere district and embellished Livia’s villa.
The frescoes are not only incredibly colorful but also gigantic in size. They symbolize domestic life as well as enchanting landscapes. In addition to the wall frescoes, you will find some impressive mosaics from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD.
Where are the four buildings of the Museo Nazionale Romano located?
Editor: Sebastian Erkens
Hey and welcome to Rome-Tourist! My name is Sebastian and I travel regularly to Rome, Italy.
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