Art Lovers Tour in Rome, Rome

If you’re an art lover, Rome may feel like you've landed in paradise! However, the Vatican Museums and Rome’s stunning piazzas and fountains may not be enough for an enthusiast like you. Nevertheless, you can follow our handpicked list of the most interesting and notable museums, galleries, masterpieces of artwork, and architecture. 

Explore the National Roman Museum or the National Etruscan Museum on this tour, plus art galleries and contemporary art museums, like MAXXI and Macro. You can also admire architectural masterpieces like the Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo. Rome is ready to spoil you!

Suggested Places to Visit:

Museums

• Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia: This museum is known for its extensive art collection and the beauty of the building and its lovely gardens. It's located northeast of Villa Borghese. You can find the Sarcophagus of the Spouses, one of the greatest remaining artifacts of the ancient civilization that preceded the Romans. 
  
  
• Church of St. Louis of the French: This is an ideal museum for art lovers, especially those who love to admire unique paintings. It's located between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, and where you can admire Baroque architecture and fall in love with three masterpieces by Caravaggio. The cycle of paintings represents the life of Matthew the Apostle: The Calling of St. Matthew, The Inspiration of St. Matthew, and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew. 
  
  
• National Roman Museum: The National Roman Museum is located in four different buildings: the Baths of Diocletian, the Palazzo Altemps, the Crypta Balbi, and the Palazzo Massimo. This last palace features one of the best archaeological and classical art collections in the world. It's located nearby the Pantheon and is ideal for lovers of both history and art. 
  
  
• Centrale Montemartini: This museum is located in the Ostiense neighborhood and is an archeology haven mostly focused on Classical sculpture. The exhibits play with the fascinating contrast between the industrial architecture of the building, the remaining electric machinery, and the classic Roman sculptures, mosaics, and architectural pieces.

Art Galleries

• Maxxi, the National Museum of Art, features works from the 21st century. Just as impressive as its modest collection is the Maxxi building itself—covering nearly 300,000 square feet (27,000 sq m), Italy's first national museum is dedicated entirely to contemporary art. Its structure is a curving, jutting building of glass, steel, and concrete. 
  
  
• Macro Museo d’Arte Contemporanea: The Macro on Via Nizza, which opened in December 2020, is the newer and bigger of two spaces that make up Rome's municipal contemporary art museum. It's located on the west side of Villa Borghese and aims to be more active, daring, and fun than the Maxxi.
  
  
• Chiostro Del Bramante: The Chiostro del Bramante is a culture and arts center, a stunning example of Renaissance architecture. The gallery holds spaces that extend below the surface of its cloister, which has been completely renovated and is now used for performances and small exhibitions of young artists.

Architectural Wonders

• Pantheon: The Pantheon is one of Rome’s best-preserved ancient monuments and a testament to architectural skill and engineering.
  
  
• Castel Sant’Angelo: Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as Hadrian’s mausoleum, is a cylindrical fortress on the banks of the Tiber River near Vatican City. If you explore the Vatican in the morning, we suggest visiting the Castel Sant’Angelo to admire the wonderful architecture of the fortress.
  
  
• Teatro Marcelo: The Teatro Marcello (Theatre of Marcellus) was an ancient open-air theater that served as inspiration for the Colosseum, although it's semicircular, whereas the Colosseum is circular. Located near the River Tiber, with arches, tunnels, columns, and ramps, it showcased the finest ancient Roman skill and artistry.

Read more about unique and interesting activities in Rome.