Museums in Rome provide both residents and visitors alike with unparalleled experiences in art, history, and archaeology. The long history of the city dates back to antiquity, and as such, there are an abundance of treasures that hearken back to the days when Rome was the beacon of light in a world shrouded for the most part in darkness. Many of the Roman museums exhibit the great relics of this golden age in history. Also, some of the best painters in the world were from Italy and were patronized by the wealthy and in many cases members of the papacy. The works of Caravaggio and Bernini can be seen at popular tourist attractions like the Galleria Borghese. The National Museum of Rome is not to be missed and the Vatican Museums contain some of the most impressive collections of art and artifacts in the whole of Europe.

The Vatican Museums are among the most visited of all the Roman museums. There are over seventeen rooms in the museum that contain one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Pieces of art by Bernini, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Titian, and many more are on display. You can count on there being lines if you try to buy tickets the day you are visiting at the door. The best bet is to pre-order with a tour guide service, allowing you to skip the lines and have a guide along to elucidate the finer points of the Vatican Museums tour.

The National Museum of Rome is another of the most popular Roman museums. It houses a stunning collection of classic sculpture that mostly came from private contributions from two aristocratic families in Italy. The Ludovisi Throne is an amazing relic that remains from the fifth century B.C.E. Visiting the National Museum of Rome is a must if you want to see some of the oldest and best preserved relics from antiquity.

Rome Map

The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is also among the finest museums in Rome. It can provide a nice diversion from the heavy ancient, classical, and neo-classical art at many of the other museums. Once again, it is advisable to take a guided tour so that you can get explanations of the art. If you are a museum lover and are traveling to Rome, you are in for a treat.

As you are planning your trip to Rome, you will be faced with a variety of decisions, many of which concern how to split up your time between all of the alluring attractions in the city. With all of the museums, historical relics, restaurants, nightlife , and entertainment, it can be difficult to decide just what to do with your time. One thing to consider is choosing the top destinations that you absolutely know you want to see. If, for instance, you know you want to explore the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Circus Maximus (many of which are museums in their own ways), there are tours that include all three in one package. Organizing your schedule in this way will help you figure out how much time you have to dedicate to visiting places that require a bit more time, like the museums in Rome.