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Best Free Museums in Rome
Wondering if we have any free museums in Rome?
The answer is yes!
Free Museums in Rome - A complete list
On my YouTube channel, I made a video about my top 5 favorite free museums in Rome, but we have many more than just five.
From ancient art to modern times, Roman ruins and landmarks, artists' homes and war memorials, there are plenty of places you can visit for free!
The beautiful sculpture on display at the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca is just one of the attractions on offer at Rome's free museums.On this page, you'll find information about Rome's free museums in these categories:
- Art museums and galleries
- Ancient Roman sites
- Military and war memorabilia museums
- House museums - places artists and collectors once lived, in their original state
- An amazing Natural History Museum in Rome
Rome's free art museums
These are some of the best museums in Rome that you can visit for free with a focus on art and sculpture:
Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco
A unique and quite stunning collection of ancient sculptures, the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture collection was first put together in the late 19th century.
Containing some remarkable examples of Egyptian sculpture (most notably the sphinx of Hatshepsut) as well as Greek, Cypriot, Etruscan, and Roman art, today it is considered among the most important collections in the world of ancient art.
Barracco personally choose the artifacts and in 1902 gifted his spectacular collection to the city of Rome.
A must-see for lovers of art and sculpture, this museum is one of my favorites in Rome, plus the building itself is also stunning, and it is never busy.
It's almost unbelievable that it is free entry to this amazing collection!
Location and hours:
October to May: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm
June to September: Tuesday-Sunday: 1:00pm-7:00pm
Accademia Nazionale di San Luca
The National Academy of San Luca dates back to the 16th century and has, through all these years, acted as a cultural center for the arts.
With a changing routine of temporary exhibitions, the Academy is populated by lovers of the arts who can also use the extensive library.
The building is located in the heart of Rome's historic center, literally next to the Trevi Fountain.
One of my favorite things about this free admission museum is Borromini's helicoidal ramp.
Location and hours:
Piazza dell’Accademia di San Luca 77
Tuesday to Saturday: guided tours start at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm and 4:00pm
Reservations required, email prenotazioni@accademiasanluca.it to book your place
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Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO)
The Museum of Contemporary Art, usually abbreviated to MACRO, is housed in two separate buildings.
With a permanent collection of modern art from the 1960's onwards and rotating exhibitions that feature current artists in both visual and audio form, it presents a fascinating selection of artworks that detail the development of the arts scene in Italy from the mid-20th century.
For lovers of modern art, this one of Rome's museums is not to be missed.
Location and hours:
Via Nizza 138 and Via Reggio Emilia 54
Tuesday-Friday: 12:00pm-7:00pm
Saturday-Sunday: 10:00am-7:00pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi per le Arti Decorative, il Costume e la Moda
This unique and fascinating museum occupies a delightful villa in the elegant Via Veneto - Ludovisi neighborhood.
Furnished as an upper-class villa of the early 20th century, the museum offers an excellent view of how the modern owners lived in the Eternal City.
For those who appreciate fashion, interior design, and history, this museum is a unique experience.
Location and hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 9:00am-7:00pm
Museo Carlo Bilotti
The impressive collection of 20th century modern art at the Museo Carlo Bilotti is made up of 23 works gifted to the city of Rome by the entrepreneur after whom the museum is named.
Among the major attractions of this beautiful museum are the portraits of Lisa and Tine Bilotti, painted by the world-famous Andy Warhol in 1981.
Featuring works from celebrated artists from the mid to late 20th century, this is a collection that lovers of modern art will appreciate, presented in a beautiful location.
Location and hours:
Via Fiorello La Guardia 6 and Viale dell’Aranciera 4
October to May: Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm, Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm
June to September: Tuesday-Friday 1:00pm-7:00pm, Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm
🤩 Journey Through Art and Architecture 🤩
Embrace Rome’s artistic heritage! Visit Palazzo Venezia and the Musei Capitolini for a journey through history, art, and the city’s most significant masterpieces.
Museo Pietro Canonica a Villa Borghese
This permanent exhibition of works by the talented and famous Italian sculptor, painter, and composer Pietro Canonica is a testament to the talent of this multi-faceted 20th century artist.
Working in the Realist style, and following World War II dedicated to more religious output, the Pietro Canonica museum displays marble and bronze sculptures and sketches by the great man.
Perhaps most famous for his Marble bust of King Edward VII, which resides in Buckingham Palace in London, the works on display in this dedicated museum (originally the artist's display rooms) are among some of the most important 20th century sculptures.
Location and hours:
Viale Pietro Canonica (Piazza di Siena) 2
October to May: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm
June to September: Tuesday-Sunday: 1:00pm-7:00pm
Free ancient Roman sites in Rome
Museo delle Mura
At the Museo della Mura you'll get up close to the ancient Roman walls which defined the city for hundreds of yearsMuseo delle Mura or the 'Museum of the Walls' offers a fascinating insight into the ancient walls of Rome.
It's another of my favorite museums in Rome, free or not!
I love that you can really appreciate Ancient Roman architecture without the crushing crowds at the Colosseum.
Among the most interesting of the free museums in Rome, this incredible exhibit allows visitors to walk inside the best-preserved section of the ancient ruins of the Aurelian Wall.
Dedicated to informing visitors about the city walls, their construction methods, and their purpose, this archaeological museum is a historical wonder that takes you back to the day of ancient Rome.
The various rooms offer information on many aspects of the Roman history of the city, including one about the Appian Way, the ancient Roman road whose beginning can be seen from the windows of the museum.
From the museum you can get a much better sense of how the ancient walls are still standing than you can from street levelLocation and hours:
Via di Porta San Sebastiano 18
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00am-2:00pm
Watch my video to learn more about my top choice of all the free museums in Rome:
Villa di Massenzio - Villa of Maxentius
The Villa di Massenzio is an important archaeological site in Rome
It features the remains of three buildings from the Roman era.
These are part of a villa and an extended complex belonging to Emperor Maxentius, once co-emperor with Constantine, who defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE.
Yes that is the same Maxentius whose name is attached to the huge basilica in the Roman Forum!
The buildings are made up of a palace, a mausoleum, and an enormous circus, which is still fairly intact.
The location of the Villa di Massenzio on the Appian Way makes it a perfect stop when you're visiting the other sites here, such as the catacombs, the Villa dei Quintilli, or just the Appia Antica itself.
At the time of writing, the circus and mausoleum are free to enter and open to the public, with work continuing on the remainder of the complex.
Location and hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Explore other sites from Ancient Rome
Military and war memorabilia museums
Museo Storico dei Granatieri di Sardegna - Historical Museum of the Granatieri
This fascinating collection of artifacts and photographs celebrates the great tradition of the Granatieri di Sardegna: the Grenadiers of Sardinia.
This famous fighting force holds a special place in the history of warfare in Italy, and a museum dedicated to these brave soldiers is undoubtedly deserved.
No fewer than 15 rooms in the magnificent building include exhibits such as weapons, a collection of photographs relating to the Great War, and items and artifacts donated by Grenadiers and their families.
Location and hours:
Piazza S. Croce in Gerusalemme 7
Monday to Friday: 9:00am-12:00pm
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Museo Storico della Liberazione - Historical Museum of the Liberation
The history of the German occupation of Rome during World War II is the focus of this free Rome museumAmong Rome's most profound and memorable museums is the Historical Museum of the Liberation.
Documenting the period of the German occupation of Rome, September 1943 through June 1944, and the subsequent liberation of the city by Allied forces, the museum showcases many poignant exhibits that leave a lasting memory.
The building that the museum occupies was used by the German SS in 1944 and was a place where many captured Italian Resistance members were tortured.
In the cells that were once used by the SS there are exhibits telling the story of the people who were imprisoned in themExhibits relating to the SS are in place, as are many that remind visitors of the persecution of Jews in Rome during this terrible period.
It's a very difficult museum to visit, at least for me, but well worth it if you have an interest in WWII history and Italy's place in it.
Not a pleasant museum in any way, but an important reminder of the horrors of war and a must-see for anyone interested in military history and WWII.
Location and hours:
Open daily: 9:00am-7:00pm
Museo dello Shoah
Museo dello Shoah is a haunting exhibition of artifacts and pictorial memories relating to the Holocaust and the persecution of Jews in Rome during World War II.
This tiny, yet inspiring and fascinating, exhibition recounts (memorably and often in a horrifying way) an important and terrible period of Rome's history.
Free to enter and shocking in many ways, I recommend you visit museums such as this one to get a complete picture of the recent history of the Jewish people living in Rome.
Like the museum above, I have a very hard time visiting this location but it's very well done and worth visiting.
Location and hours:
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm, Fridays 10:00am-1:00pm, closed on Saturdays
Mausoleum of the Fosse Ardeatine
One of the most horrific events during the German occupation of Rome from 1943 to mid-1944 was the Ardeatine Massacre.
The mass murder of 335 Italian prisoners took place in response to a partisan attack on a German police battalion on 24th March 1944.
The prisoners were taken to the Ardeatine caves to the south of the city and shot in groups of five.
Today the caves are home to the bodies of the dead, and beneath the Mausoleum is an informative museum that outlines the historical events leading to the massacre.
A moving and sombre place, the Mausoleum is of great historical importance.
Each year the event is remembered in an official ceremony at the site where the 335 names are read aloud.
Location and hours:
Monday-Friday 08:15am-3:15pm, Saturday and Sunday 08:15am-4:15pm
Museo della Repubblica Romana e della Memoria Garibaldina
Remembering the days of the Republic of Italy and the great Giuseppe Garibaldi, this excellent museum uses multi-media and traditional museum exhibits to explain the rich and fascinating history of Rome and Italy in the unification period.
Mainly focused on the uprising of 1848 and the attacks by the French in the following year, this important museum traces those difficult times and is informative and evocative.
This is a must-see museum for any visitors to Rome interested in history, particularly military history.
Location and hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10:00am-2:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm
The History of Italy
Italy as a country has only officially existed since 1861 but its history stretches back far, far longer!
To understand more about how Italy came to exist and how it fared after unification, try reading this insightful book.
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House museums - Places artists and collectors once lived, in their original state
Among the most interesting museums in Rome are several 'House Museums' celebrating the lives and times of famous and prominent persons.
These notable museums in Rome are all focused on specific people from history, providing a fascinating insight into the many people who have lived in Rome through the city's long history.
Museo Napoleonico (Napoleon Museum)
With a collection of artifacts donated to the city by a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Napoleonic Museum is a wonderful insight into the history of one of the world's great leaders.
The collection is split into three ages, starting with the Napoleonic era and ending with the rise of the Second Empire.
The collection was started by Napoleon's distant cousin, Count Giuseppe Primoli, and is largely preserved as he intended it to be displayedThis important and interesting museum not only shows pictures and busts from the time, but also recreates the decor, fascinating for people who enjoy period interior design!
This is a great museum dedicated to the lives of a family with a very interesting history.
Location and hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00am-6:00pm
Studio di Luigi Pirandello
Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934, the great Italian writer and playwright Luigi Pirandello lived here and his studio has been turned into a museum and research center dedicated to his life and works.
Pirandello is famous for his novels, hundreds of short stories, and around 40 plays which are still put on today.
The original interiors and furnishings are intact, and many manuscripts and other items relating to this literary great are on display.
Booking in advance is essential, and a guide accompanies visitors.
Location and hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:00am-3:30pm, Fridays 11:00am-7:00pm
Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen
An American-Norwegian artist and sculptor, the house in which Hendrik Christian Andersen lived is now an excellent museum celebrating the life and times of a hugely interesting man.
Villa Helene, a building designed by the great man himself, is not something you'd associate with Rome, but this is a lovely free entry museum.
Andersen was famously dedicated to creating a 'World City', an almost utopian vision of a world of wonderful art.
This resulted in his famous 'World Centre of Communication', a hefty tome outlining the importance of art in society.
This house has a greatly informative and interesting collection that must be seen.
Location and hours:
Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini 20
Tuesday-Sunday: 9:30am-7:30pm
The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome
Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.
In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo, and much more.
And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.
Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.
An amazing Natural History Museum in Rome
Museo di Casal de ‘Pazzi
The extraordinary Museo di Casal de 'Pazzi is all about archaeological and geological history.
Consisting of a 1200 square meter patch of remarkably well-preserved Pleistocene deposits, it is a unique experience and a chance to view geological deposits from 200,000 years ago!
The museum features exhibits and interactive displays outlining how life would have looked during the Pleistocene era and gives an important insight into how life has evolved across millennia.
Nothing else is like this superb museum in Rome (or elsewhere), so if you are a natural history buff, be sure to check it out!
Reservations are required.
Location and hours:
Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-2:00pm, Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm
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Free entry on the first Sunday of the month
On the first Sunday of the month, you can also visit many state and city-run sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Capitoline Museums, and many more for free.
Also, on the last Sunday of most months, the Vatican Museums, usually closed on Sundays, are open and free.
The hours are limited and you can expect huge lines, but if it's the only day you have, just try getting there super early!
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