Of particular interest is the Marte di Todi (Mars of Todi), a black bronze of a warrior dating from the late 5th century BCE, located in Room III. Fascinating exhibits include a fragmented statue of Ramses II on his throne, vividly painted sarcophagi dating from around 1000 BCE, and a macabre mummy.Īt the top of the 18th-century Simonetti staircase, the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco contains artifacts unearthed in the Etruscan tombs of northern Lazio, as well as a superb collection of vases and Roman antiquities. Museo Gregoriano Egizio (Egyptian Museum)įounded by Gregory XVI in 1839, this museum contains pieces taken from Egypt in Roman times.
Near the end of the hall, off to the right, is the Braccio Nuovo (New Wing), which contains a famous statue of the Nile as a reclining god covered by 16 babies. Its walls are lined with thousands of statues and busts representing everything from immortal gods to playful cherubs and ugly Roman patricians. The Museo Chiaramonti is effectively the long corridor that runs down the east side of the Belvedere Palace. You’ll never cover it all in one day, so it pays to be selective. On the inside are three courtyards: the Cortile della Pigna, the Cortile della Biblioteca and, to the south, the Cortile del Belvedere. This vast 13.6-acre complex consists of two palaces – the original Vatican palace (nearer to St Peter’s) and the 15th-century Palazzetto di Belvedere – joined by two long galleries. Housing the museums are the lavishly decorated halls and galleries of the Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano. Highlights include the spectacular collection of classical statuary in the Museo Pio-Clementino, a suite of rooms frescoed by Raphael, and the Michelangelo-painted Sistine Chapel. Exhibits, which are displayed along about 4 miles of halls and corridors, range from Egyptian mummies and Etruscan bronzes to ancient busts, old masters and modern paintings. To finish off, what can beat a gelato followed by a shot of world-beating coffee? Read moreįounded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century and enlarged by successive pontiffs, the Vatican Museums boast one of the world's greatest art collections. That's where the locals go to indulge their passion for thin, crispy pizzas, humble pasta dishes, and cool white wines from the nearby Castelli Romani hills. For contemporary fine dining and five-star wine there are any number of refined restaurants, but for a truly Roman meal head to a boisterous pizzeria or convivial neighbourhood trattoria. Roman FeastingĮating out is one of Rome's great pleasures and the combination of romantic alfresco settings and superlative food is a guarantee of good times. Elsewhere, cheerful hordes mill around popular haunts before heading off to hip cocktail bars and late-night clubs. The tempo rises in the evening when fashionable drinkers descend on the city’s bars and cafes for a sociable aperitivo (drink with snacks) and trattorias hum with activity.
Idling around picturesque streets, whiling away hours at streetside cafes, people-watching on pretty piazzas – these are all central to the Roman experience. Living the LifeĪ trip to Rome is as much about lapping up the dolce vita lifestyle as gorging on art and culture.
Stroll through the centre and without even trying you’ll come across masterpieces by the titans of European art – sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Caravaggio, frescoes by Raphael and fountains by Bernini. Ancient statues adorn world-class museums Byzantine mosaics and Renaissance frescoes dazzle in art-rich churches baroque facades flank medieval piazzas. The result is a city awash with priceless treasures. Throughout history, the city has starred in the great upheavals of Western art, drawing top artists and inspiring them to push the boundaries of creative achievement. Artistic Treasuresįew cities can rival Rome's astonishing artistic heritage. Elsewhere, ornate piazzas and showy fountains add a baroque flourish to the city's captivating streets. Lording it over the skyline, St Peter’s Basilica towers over the Vatican, testifying to the ambition of Rome’s Renaissance popes and the genius of its game-changing architects. Ancient icons such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon recall the city’s golden age as caput mundi (capital of the world), while monumental basilicas tell of its history as seat of the Catholic Church. The result of 3000 years of ad hoc urban development, Rome's cityscape is an exhilarating sight. A heady mix of haunting ruins, awe-inspiring art and vibrant street life, Italy’s hot-blooded capital is one of the world’s most romantic and charismatic cities.
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