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Museum · Roma, Lazio
Musei Capitolini
Museums atop the Campidoglio, in the piazza designed by Michelangelo, with the Loba Capitolina, the equestrian statue of Marco Aurélio and a window onto the Foro Romano.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Musei Capitolini
The Musei Capitolini are considered the world's oldest public museum: they began in 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a set of ancient bronzes to the people of Rome. They occupy the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo, on the Piazza del Campidoglio.
The piazza, atop the Capitoline Hill, was designed by Michelangelo, with a star-shaped pavement and the sloped staircase, the Cordonata. In the center stands a copy of the equestrian statue of Marco Aurélio; the original bronze is inside the museum. The Palazzo Senatorio, in the background, is the seat of Rome's city government.
Among the works are the Loba Capitolina, nursing Romulus and Remus, the Gálata Moribundo, the Espinario and fragments of the colossal statue of Constantine. The picture gallery contains paintings by Caravaggio, such as the Buona Ventura.
The two palaces are linked by an underground gallery that runs through the Tabularium, the ancient Roman archive. There a window opens onto the Foro Romano. Some rooms may be closed for works: check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours for both palaces.
Best time
Mid-afternoon, to finish in the piazza and see the Foro in the late-day light from the viewpoint behind the Palazzo Senatorio.
How to get there
On foot, up the Cordonata from Piazza Venezia, about 5 minutes. From the Colosseum it's about 15 minutes along the Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Tip
Don't miss the underground passage to the Tabularium to view the Foro from inside the museum. The Campidoglio piazza is open and can be seen without a ticket.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Musei Capitolini
What to see in the Musei Capitolini?
The Loba Capitolina, the original equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the Dying Gaul, the fragments of the colossal statue of Constantine, and the view of the Foro from the Tabularium.
Do you need a ticket for Piazza del Campidoglio?
No, the square is open. Tickets are only for the museums in the palaces.
Is the Campidoglio near the Coliseu?
Yes, about a 15-minute walk along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, passing by the Foro Romano.