Oldest museum globally found in Italy boasts an impressive assemblage of ancient artworks.
The Grand Old Square: Rome's Capitoline Museums
An ancient tale unfolds on Rome's sacred Capitoline Hill, where two historic palaces face off. Since 1471, the Capitoline Museums have been a colossal time capsule, housing the finest treasures of antiquity with an unwavering persistence that defies the centuries.
A Political Gift Wrapped in Art
Pope Sixtus IV pulled off an unprecedented move on December 14, 1471, when he handed over five major ancient statues from the Lateran Palace to the Capitoline Hill. Among the priceless relics: the famous Capitoline Wolf, the Spinario, and colossal fragments of an imperial statue. This generous gift wasn't merely a beauty parade, but a strategic political move.
Rome in those days was marred by the Great Schism and centuries of instability. Sixtus IV aimed to anchor his pontificate in a new greatness, both politically and culturally. He chose the Capitoline Hill, the heart of ancient Roman Republic, to make his epic ambition a reality.
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Two Palaces, One Grand Vision
The Capitoline Museums can trace their root system to two distinct buildings: the Palazzo dei Conservatori, previously the seat of municipal magistrates, and, later, the Palazzo Nuovo. Michelangelo, under the commission of Paul III, sketched a plan to reorganize the central square of Campidoglio in 1536. The visionary project dragged on for over 400 years.
The Palazzo dei Conservatori cherishes frescoes inspired by Rome's founding stories and preserves the original equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, moved indoors to escape the erosive effects of time. Long thought to be a likeness of the Christian Emperor Constantine, it narrowly escaped destruction in past centuries.
Byron's Slip of the Quill
The Palazzo Nuovo, inaugurated in the 18th century, now adorns an impressive collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. Their arrangement, almost unchanged since the Enlightenment era, reflects the aesthetic preferences of Rome's noble souls.
One of the most-visited pieces is the Dying Gaul, inspired by a Hellenistic bronze original. The sculpture, allegedly brought to Rome from Pergamum under Nero, enjoyed renewed popularity in the Romantic era, thanks to Lord Byron's poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. The poem misinterpreted it as a wounded gladiator, but the emotional impact is undeniable.
A Vision of the Past and the Present
In 1734, under Pope Clement XII, the museum officially opened its doors to the public for the first time, making it the first public museum in Europe. Prior to this, access to the works was exclusive to elites and circles of power. This transition hinted at the birth of modern institutions like the British Museum (1753) and the Louvre (1793), although the Capitoline Museums beat them to the punch significantly.
Tourists on the Grand Tour flocked to it. The Capitoline Museums became a must-see for young European aristocrats embarking on their artistic journeys in the heart of antiquity.
After 1870, archaeological excavations increased in the newly-christened capital of Rome, as did the museum's collection. Discoveries gradually joined the ranks, progressively completing a grand puzzle.
The museum also relished in successive donations from popes and municipal purchases, continuing to enrich its reserves. Today, the Capitoline Museums continue a mission begun over five centuries ago: to make ancient art tantalizingly accessible right in the heart of the Eternal City.
Capitoline MuseumsOpen every day from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM (last admission at 6:30 PM)Piazza del Campidoglio, 100186 Rome, Italy+39 060608
Despite the comforts of in-flights and modern-day lifestyles, the appeal of ancient Rome remains as compelling as ever. The Capitoline Museums, a fascinating fusion of history and art on Rome's Capitoline Hill, offer a riveting glimpse into the lifestyle of travelers of yesteryears who embarked on the Grand Tour to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of antiquity.
