Once, this was a Jesuit College and the first High School of the united Italy, today this is the National Roman Museum in which ancient art masterpieces are on display. The collection is composed of statues and art works from the Republican, Imperial and late-Imperial era of the Roman Empire.
The building of the museum was constructed in the neo-Renaissance style by the last member of the Massimo Family in Rome, Massimiliano Massimo - a Jesuit monk. This building was a Jesuit College until 1871 when it was transformed into the first high school of the unified Italy, Visconti High School. In 1960, the high school was moved to a new building while Palazzo Massimo was completely abandoned. In order to expand the exhibition area of the historical heritage of Rome, the building was renovated and became a national museum; it was opened for public in 1998.
The collection on the ground floor and the 1st floor is dedicated to the evolution of Roman sculptures and it is composed of imitations of Ancient Greek sculptures and original Roman models. These are the master pieces that you should not miss: Resting boxer, Lancelotti’s disc thrower, Sleeping Hermaphrodite, Antium maid, dying Niobid and the bronze Dionisus. Among the portraits of imperators, you can see the statue of imperator August, portraits of princesses and princes of the imperator family Julio-Claudian, the head of Imperator Hadrian and the bust of Settimio Severo. Without doubt, Potonaccio sarcophagus is worth the attention - it is decorated with scenes of the battles between Romans and Barbarians.
Important frescoes and mosaics are displayed on the second floor. Here you can also see Triclinium (dining room) of Livia (Livia was the wife of the first Imperator, Augustus). This dining room is a detailed reconstruction of the original, where you can observe all the decorations of the luxurious homes from that period. The basement of the museum is reserved for the jewelry (necklaces, rings, golden hair pins, etc.). Also, here you will see exhibited a mummy of the 8 year old child, in a marble sarcophagus, together with an ivory doll that belonged to the child. The exhibition ends with objects that were used in a daily life of the Romans. By looking at these objects, you will be able to get a clear idea about nutrition, clothing and the use of free time in once great empire.
Ticket price for the National Roman Museum- Palazzo Massimo
(!) The ticket is valid for 3 days and with it you can visit 4 museums: Palazzo Massimo, The Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Altemps and Balbi Crypt.
Regular ticket price is: 7 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is: 3.5 Euros (€), (European Union citizens between 18 and 25, and older than 65).
Free entrance: for younger than 17.
We advise you to check ticket prices before visiting – check the official website of the National Roman Museum.
Working hours of the National Roman Museum- Palazzo Massimo
From Tuesday to Sunday working hours are: 09:00 – 19:45h.
Museum is closed: on Mondays, January 1, December 25.
We advise you to check working hours before visiting – check the official website of the National Roman Museum.
