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Rome museums and galleries

Rome is known for its antiquities on every street corner and piazza's rather than it's galleries and museums.

However, the Eternal City has many more monuments and museums than the average visitor has time to see. We've provided a short list of our favourites plus a few that generally don't get seen.

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo: [Lungotevere Castello 50, 06 39967600] This fascinating complex started out as the Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, then in the Middle Ages was made into a fortress, and in the Renaissance was outfitted with papal apartments. A funerary, military, and domestic monument all in one! Great views over Rome from the top. [Opening times are Tues-Sun 9.00 - 18.00]

Capitoline Museum

Capitoline Museum: [Piazza Venezia, 06 67102071] Made up of the Palazzo Nuovo which houses an incredibly rich collection of Roman sculpture (including the original of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius) and the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Braccio Nuovo which house more ancient sculpture as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. Piazza del Campidoglio. [Opening times are Tues-Sun 9.00-20.00]

The Vatican Museum

Vatican Museum: [The Vatican City] The Vatican Museum is an immense collections of art so rich that it's extremely hard to take it all in. Not to be missed but get there early as the queues can be horrendously long. [Opening times are Mid-Mar.-Oct., weekdays 8:45-4:45, Sat. and last Sun. of month 8:45-1:45; Nov.-mid-Mar., Mon.-Sat. and last Sun. of month 8:45-1:45] Vatican Museum website

Galleria Borghese

Galleria Borghese: [Villa Borghese] Original sculptures and paintings in the Borghese Gallery date back to Cardinal Scipione's collection, the son of Ortensia Borghese - Paolo V's sister - and of Francesco Caffarelli. This is a fantastic collection where you can see such masterpieces from Raffaello, Bernini, Rubens and Caravaggio. Entrance by reservation only and tickets can be purchased the day before from 8.30am to 6pm Galleria Borghese : [Villa Borghese] Original sculptures and paintings in the Borghese Gallery date back to Cardinal Scipione's collection, the son of Ortensia Borghese - Paolo V's sister - and of Francesco Caffarelli. This is a fantastic collection where you can see such masterpieces from Raffaello, Bernini, Rubens and Caravaggio. Entrance by reservation only and tickets can be purchased the day before from 8.30am to 6pm Galleria Borghese website

Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Altemps

Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Altemps: [Piazza S. Apollinare 44, 06 6833566] Next to Piazza Navona, this palazzo provides a great insight into the history of ancient Rome with frescoes retrieved and reconstructed , statues and high relief.

Villa Giulia

Villa Giulia: [Piazzale di Villa Giulia 9, 06 3201706] In the centre of Villa Borghese you'll find a palazzo exhibiting many Etruscan wonders.