This was one of my least favorite things to do on my trip. This is very much a museum and I don't…read moretypically love museums. There is much history here but I didn't love it. One of my frustrations is that I had a guided tour that was very expensive where combined with other attractions and it was a rip-off. You could save some cash and walk through yourself although one advantage with the guided tour was a priority line. Three stars for me.

My boss told me one of his favorites was the Vatican when he went to Italy last year so I couldn't…read morewait for Lisa and I to visit. We met with our amazing tour guide Roberta and headed in. First thing we explored was a replica of Michelangelo's Pieta. This is the closest you are able to get to it and see all the details as the original is protected in St. Peter's Basilica. Next we viewed artwork that represented how to get to heaven and how to get to hell, including Raphael's transfiguration which was his last piece and Caravaggio's the entombment of Christ. We moseyed through the different parts and were in awe of the sculptures, ceilings and just all the great history in this magnificent place. Of course the Sistine Chapel was magnificent and you'll have to come and see for yourself as pictures are not allowed.

Museo di Roma is a wonderful museum to end your visit in Rome. I wouldn't recommend this museum for…read morepeople who are going to be staying in Rome for a short period of time (1-3 days) but more to the folks who have been in Roma before and are looking to do a recap of the history of this beautiful city. My husband and I have been in Roma four times during the last few years and were looking to do something new because the bigger attractions haven't really changed in the last few years. We were staying a block away from Museo di Roma and decided to give it a chance. The Museum goes through the history of this beautiful city, from the architecture to war. History has shaped this city and is really amazing to see how much it has changed and which places are still up and are part of the modern day Roma. This museum has some really amazing views of Campo de'Fiori which are perfect photo opportunities. They offer discounts to EU students and people who are 25 years or younger. You are not allowed to walk through the museum with a backpack but they offer free locker rooms to leave your stuff while walking through this beautiful museum.

Wonderful museum. We skipped the exhibition- the regular collection was enough for us, but the…read morespecial exhibition of opera and art looked fascinating. The museum has a lift for the handicapped (and if you have proof of disability, you can get in free with one other person! Isn't that nice?) The price- 9 euros I think- was well worth it. There were many different kinds of art here- and the palace itself is a work of art. The paintings on the ceilings are lovely- and the way the collections were arranged was great. There's even a movie giving you history of the building. My favorite room was the one of the artists and their families- paintings, representing artists and their families- and I also loved the rooms of sculpture- one with a wonderful winged nymph, and another room with many sculpted heads. But all the rooms were great- and there was almost no one here. Why? It's a gorgeous collection. Go here. Enjoy. And let me just add, they have a handicapped bathroom, if you have any mobility impairment (lovely bathroom, let me add). Just a final note- from the upper floor you get a knock out view of the Plaza Navona- it's a wonderful place to take a picture. I LOVED my picture from the upper window!

Fantastic painting , amazing place to Spend hours looking at…read morefrescos . Rome will Always keep you amazed

The Capitoline Museum exhibits medieval art to ancient statues, and you can discover ancient Rome…read morehistory here. There are quite a few statues shouldn't be missed, such as Statue of Capitoline Venus, Bust of Medusa, Colossus of Constantine, The Capitoline She-wolf etc. The regular admission ticket cost €13, and I think it's totally worth it.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

What an awesome view into the extravagant wealth of these families. We enjoyed exploring the palace!read more

When we were in Vatican City in the afternoon, we skipped the plaza. We came back in the early…read moreevening and it was much less crowded. The square is directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Both are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first Pope. There is an obelisk in the center and 284 columns that create the elliptical shape of the square.

This is the area around the Vatican…read more It's gorgeous! I absolutely love the fountains and statues in this area. So much amazing architecture. When you step into this piazza, I feel like you get a sense of the Holy Spirit. I mean, how can you not when you are so close to the Vatican? There's a peaceful atmosphere here.

We stumbled upon this museum while wandering the area and decided to give it a shot. Two adult…read moretickets were about 25 euros with audio tour, but unfortunately neither of us felt that it was really worth the money. Maybe I should have expected this, but everything in the museum is a replica or slightly sad version to depict Leonardo's inventions. The tour itself probably took about 25 minutes, but there's really not a whole lot to see.

Space is on two levels with multiple gallery sized rooms. A lot of interesting and interactive…read moredisplays and models. I love the fact that you can actually touch and try almost everything on display to see the mechanics of it and how it works. They have a lot of interesting facts about daVinci and his works. I do recommend going if you are into his work. The whole space takes a good 40mins-1hr to walk through if you interact and read everything and about 25 minutes if you just want to walk through and a casually interact. I have to say it was really fascinating to find out all the thing she tried to make and the mechanics of how to do certain tasks before the machines, or tasks were wildly developed.

Fantastic bucket list location..when in rome.. Must…read moresee...note crowd is massive Must see

I got pregnant in 2019, and one of the last things I did before entering the baby years was…read morecomplete a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I'd seen pictures of it, of course, but didn't realize how crazy it was until I spent who knows how many of hours of my life on that giant puzzle, which covered my entire dining room table. That was a big undertaking, but it was literally nothing compared to the once-in-several-millennia feat of the ceiling itself: 5,000 square feet of frescoes painted by Michelangelo, standing on a scaffold and working from below. The frescoes show scenes from Genesis, including the Creation of Adam, one of the most famous paintings of all time. They're colorful, energetic, and a little bizarre. I enjoyed staring at them for weeks while I worked on the puzzle. The ceiling is, of course, 1,000 times more impactful in person, a genuinely breathtaking masterpiece, unlike anything else in the world. Then there's The Last Judgment, the enormous apocalyptic fresco painted by Michelangelo on the altar wall twenty-five years after the ceiling, when he was in his 60s. It's powerful and dynamic, roaring with life, with over 300 figures in a work that encompasses the heights of heaven and the depths of hell. At its center is a buff Jesus, his physique modeled after the famous Belvedere Torso, which also resides in the Vatican Museums. We visited the Sistine Chapel under ideal conditions: a Monday morning in mid-November, with a small group tour. I gather that it gets crowded and sweaty during peak season, and I feel lucky that we got to see it in such serenity. Our tour guide prepared us for the visit by telling us the chapel's history and pointing out key points on a printed sheet before we entered. There were strict rules once we went in: no photos, no videos, and no talking. The no talking rule seemed to be the most relaxed, but the chapel felt holy and hushed even with some low chatter. We were able to find seats on one of the benches along the walls and gawk at the ceiling and The Last Judgment at our leisure. If I never see the Sistine Chapel again, I will remember the experience for the rest of my life. I hope to go back, though, even if it is a crush of bodies. It might even be fitting to view The Last Judgment while writhing in a sea of humanity.

We were delighted to find out that by purchasing one ticket we gained entrance into four of the…read moreNational Museums of Rome. The museums are Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Altemps. This museum is probably not known to most visitors, but should be. The Crypta Balbi museum takes you on a historical trip through Rome's past by showcasing the excavations that were found here. It is located just around the corner from the Piazza Venezia, and there are three floors that can be explored. Starting in the basement is the best part - it has the archaeological remains of the Theatre of Balbus, which can be explored while walking down the damp and dark passageways. The other floors will give you a clear picture of how the Romans lived between the 5th and 10th century. We were especially taken with all the pottery. This is a museum that the kids will like.

Highly recommended! The museum offers a very good overview of the urban evolution of the area over…read more2000 years. If you have children: take them with you. The drawings make it really easy to comprehend. The museum is very well integrated in the architecture of the building that respects the archeological charachter of the site.

This was one of the most interesting museums I think I have ever seen in my life- no joke!! I…read moreGoogled weird things to do in Rome (no joke) and this was on it. I never heard of it but when I did I knew I had to go!! This was only 2 Euros. CHEAP!! I felt like they could have charged more LOL. I was here for hours even though your average person would probably be here for like 30-45 minutes lol. It's on a quiet side street in a less touristy part of the center of Rome and very easy to miss. I saw a couple tourists lost when I left who were clearly trying to find it. When you go in, you just pay and put your stuff in a locker (no added fee). This is much larger than you think it will be when you enter has it's 3 stories but compacted space. When you first enter, you see a lot of torture devices used mainly in Italy but some in other countries like Germany and Spain. I didn't know that many torture devices existed! You see pictures of things executioners wore which was creepy af! When you are done looking at the torture section, I believe right after that was the contraband section!!! You see stuff like shanks confiscated from prisoners, as well as smuggled objects into Italy like forged paintings and pornography (LOL!! This was retro porn too!). After that section you see things taken at scenes of crimes, pictures of murders and mafia members along with their stories. The only reason this wasn't given 5 stars from me is that the exhibit was all in Italian and maybe 60% of it was translated into English. I took pictures of stories that looked in interesting that were only in Italian so I could Google later. I also would have loved a gift shop but they didn't have one =( The toilet here was clean too!

I didn't know that this museum is so popular and that you must purchase your tickets in advance…read more Luckily, I was able to purchase tickets before our trip to Rome, but they had only a limited number of tickets available for the time that we were going to be there. So if you are planning on going to Galleria Borghese, make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. We visited the Borghese in the afternoon during the week, and I think that was a great idea because it was pretty empty, and we had yet another chance to see everything with almost no one around. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if we got lucky. Either way, I was able to take my time to look at all the beautiful art pieces. Everything was so beautiful. I recommend going to this museum if you have the time; it's definitely worth it.

The Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, housed in the former…read moreVilla Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction. Such beautiful art and sculptures. What a breathtaking selection. Another must see while visiting Rome. TIP- Need to buy tickets for the gallery in advance, or by a 3rd party company. They sell out fast.