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 Capitoline Museum - Orazi and
Curiazi fresco. by breughel, 1 more photos
The most imposing room is that of the Horace's and Curiaces so called because its walls are decorated of a series of historical frescos due to Cavalier of Arpino.
The first, on the left of the entry, is that of the combat of the Horace's and Curiaces.
I recognize that according to my Latin readings of Tite-Live and his “De Viris Illustribus” I saw that fight of the sole Horace, left unscathed after the first combat, against the three Curiaces brothers wounded to various degrees, in a different way. In my imagination there was much more space than what the painter represented on the wall.
This room comprises also two monumental statues, that of the Pope Urbain VIII out of marble by Bernin and that in bronze of Pope Innocent X by Algarde. This is a masterly work.
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If you have only time to visit one museum in Rome I advise you this one.
You will not be waiting in a long line as with the museum of the Vatican and you will see very famous pieces of the Antique art. Moreover the site of the museum is one of most beautiful of Rome.
In fact there are 3 museums on Piazza Campidoglio. They are called "Musei Capitolini" and belong to the city of Rome. The sole entry is on the right by the “Palazzo dei Consevatori”. Here on two floors and about thirty rooms is the main part of the collections. The most outstanding artefacts are statues of bronze or marble of the ancient Rome. Most known are “the She-wolf”, “the Spinario” and the equestrian statue of Marc-Aurelius.
By an underground gallery the visitors reach, after a right turn, the arcades of the antique “Tabularium”, located under the "Palazzo dei Senatorio" and present town hall, from where one has imposing sights on the Foro Romano and the Palatine hill.
By this same underground the visitors join, on the other side of the Piazza Campidoglio the “Palazzo Nuovo” which comprises a dozen rooms with statues of which most known are the “Faun” and “the dying Gaul”.
The exit of the Capitoline Museums is by this palace.
The collections of statues and archaeological artefacts of the “Musei Capitolini” were made up as from 1471 by the Popes and Roman important families like the Horti and the Castellani. The Pinacotheca, art gallery of the second floor was founded by Pope Benoit XIV in the 18th century. There is also a cabinet of currencies and medals.
Open: 9 - 20 h, closed on Monday.
Price: 6,50 €, reduced 4,50 €, free for EU citizens less than 18 y. or more than 65 years.
Nice cafeteria with terrace on the 2nd floor.
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Since 2005 a new large glass hall built, inside the garden of the Palazzo dei Conservatori, contains the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (the one on the Piazza is a copy).
It is likely that this bronze statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180 AD) was erected a few years before is death. Where is not sure but probably in the Roman Forum although medieval sources mentioned its presence on the Lateran.
These equestrian statues called "equi magni", larger than life-size, were much diffused in the imperial Rome but from the twenty mentioned in documents this is the only one which reached us through the centuries.
The statue was placed on the Capitol's Hill in 1538. Corrosion and fissures in the legs made a removal of the statue in 1981 for long restoration works necessary. In 1990 Marcus Aurelius became again visible in the courtyard of the Capitoline Museum sheltered by a large window. In the present prestigious hall Marcus Aurelius has got for company some of the major Capitoline bronzes, the Hercules in gilded bronze from the Foro Boario and the remains of the bronze colossus of Constantine.
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Best known, of course, is the Lupa Capitolina or She-wolf (Why is there no specific English word for a female wolf like in other languages!?). This famous Etruscan bronze statue (room VII Palazzo dei Conservatori) of the emblem of Roma goes back as far as the 6th c. BC. The twin brothers Romulus and Remus were added during the Renaissance period.
A most beautiful statue is that of the Spinario: "Boy removing thorn from foot". Certainly one of the most gracious statues of all times, it is probably an original Greek work of the 1st c. BC. (room VI). In the same room, I very much liked the bust of consul Junius Brutus dating from the 3rd c. BC. (nothing to do with the Brutus who killed J. Caesar). Have you seen the expression of the eyes!
I also admired a bronze statue of a horse of the 5th c. BC which is being restored. What a perfection!
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There are two antic statues at this museum which are surprising.
One is the "Baby Hercules" in black marble of room VI at the Palazzo Nuovo.
This colossal statue about 2 m high of Hercules represented as a somewhat chubby kid is funny with his pelt of a lion in hands. Don't laugh too much, he developed in a strong feared man as you can see from the gilded adult statue in the Marcus Aurelius exedra.
The other surprising statue is the Diana of Ephesus, a white marble statue with extremities in bronze showing flowers, bees and other symbols of fertility.
Quite relax is the colossal statue of the Marforio above the fountain in the courtyard of the Palazzo Nuovo. He was one of the "speaking statues" of Rome in the Middle Ages, nowadays Marforio remains silent but it seemed to me that he had a mocking expression each time tourists had themselves photographed by his fountain.
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If you are an amateur of ancient sculptures you will find here very fine pieces coming mainly from private collections belonging to high-ranking churchmen and noble Roman families.
Among the marble statues I did admire is the very famous "Galata Morente" (Room VIII, Palazzo Nuovo). The English translation of "dying Gaul" is confusing because the Galates were Celtics living in Asia Minor (far away from the "Galli" Gaul's of the present France). The statue is a copy of a bronze statue from the school of Pergamo (3-2nd c. BC) it is one of the most beautiful pieces of the antic art.
In the large room VI of the same Palazzo Nuovo are five masterpieces of black marble among which the "Old Centaur" and the "Young Centaur" of an extraordinary technique are my preferred. They were found at the Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli as well as another highlight of the museum, the red marble statue of a "Faun".
But these are just a few among many good statues. I also liked that elegant statue of Hygeia and the portrait in marble of a lady with an imposing wave hairdressing which was typical for the family of the Severi Emperors.
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 Main sculpture hall in
the Palazzo Nuovo by Lacristina,
3 more photos
THIS is one of them.
(The other two are the Vatican Musuems and the Galleria Borghese, but really, you should also see the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, part of the National Museum of Rome. Yes, of course, there are others - but this is a good start.)
Why the Capitoline Museums?
1. Because you'll see some of the most amazing ancient sculptures on the planet....iconic sculptures....sculptures you've seen all your life in books. Now is your chance to see them in person. The Dying Gaul, the Capitoline Venus, the original 5th century BC Etruscan bronze wolf, symbol of Rome, (often used to illustrate the legend of the she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus), the colossal pieces of the statue of the Emperor Constantine that originally stood in his basilica just a few hundred meters away in the Roman Forum, the charming and much copied "Spinario" (a small boy, seated, with much concentration, pulls a thorn from the bottom of his foot.) and so much more.
2. Because of the new exhibition space, the original gilded bronze of Marcus Aurelius on horseback can finally be seen from every angle. (Previously it was "caged" behind a glass wall, only allowing a front-on view.) It is a wonderful space, giving full emotional power to the works displayed. Plus you get to see the foundations of the original Temple of Jupiter, which was MUCH larger than I had imagined.
3. For the vista over the Roman Forum from the Tabularium, especially at dusk
4. For the lovely view of Rome from the terrace of the cafe'.
5. And I haven't even MENTIONED the Caravaggio's!
Please, just go! Closed on Monday, but open from 9-8 p.m. I've never seen a line of more than a few people. Many rooms/displays are well signed in English. Leave a Comment
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 Original Equestrian Bronze
Marcus Aurelius by icunme, 4 more photos
Reading the history from room to room will enhance your apprciation considerably. The creation of the Capitoline Museums has been traced to 1471 and the bronze gifts from Pope Sixtus IV. This lends credence to this being accepted as the oldest existing public collection in the world.
Entering the Museum courtyard will stop you in your tracks as you view the massive sculpture on display. A few of the more notable sights to be seen as you proceed include:
*Courtyard - gigantic statue of Oceano
*Ground Floor - enormous statue of Mars
*The original bronze sculptures donated by Pope Sixtus in 1471 - Bronze She-Wolf (Rome symbol - photo 3), Original Bronze Boy Removing Thorn From Foot (copy is in Galleria Borghese)
*The Head of Constantine
*Sarchophagus (photo 2)
*65 busts of Roman Emperors and the Amazzone ferita
*The Dying Gaul
*Bernini's Medusa - visible and currently undergoing rennovation
*Tapestry Room
*Master Paintings - Caravaggio, Guercino, Tintoretto, Annibale Carracci, Paolo Veronese, Scarsellino, Palma il Vecchio, Tiziano, Rubens, Antonio van Dyck
*Exceptional Vistas overlooking the Roman Forum
*Forum Foundation in new wing - same room as Equestrian Marcus Aurelius
*Lower sub-basement with rows of inscriptions
*Original Equestrian Marcus Aurelius Bronze - the crowning jewel - Copy stands in Piazza Campodoglio - photo 1
Opening times
Tuesday - Sunday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
24th and 31st December 09 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday CLOSED
1st January, 1st May, 25th December CLOSED
The ticket-office closes one hour before the closing-time of the Museum
You will be asked to check bags, backpacks, pushchairs, umbrellas and pass security screening.
Ticket - 4.50 €
The website below is the official site of the Imperial forums, with pictorial
reconstructions of how the ruins looked in their day - how they look now - life in ancient Rome - a live Web view of the forum. Worth a virtual visit..........
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After he arrived in Rome, Pope Paul III (Farnese) decided to reshape the Capitoline Hill into a monumental civic piazza; Michelangelo designed the project and his Piazza del Campidoglio is one of the most significant contributions ever made in the history of urban planning. The hill's importance as a sacred site in antiquity had been largely forgotten due to its medieval transformation into the seat of the secular government and headquarters for the Roman guilds, and it was in forlorn condition when Michelangelo took charge of reorganizing it as a dynamic new center of Roman political life.
COMPARE THE EQUESTRIAN COPY OF MARCUS AURELIUS IN THE COURTYARD WITH THE ORIGINAL INSIDE THE MUSEUM.
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 The sculpture from the
museums. by chiara76
First collection of the sculptures was dating on year 1471 .
In year 1734 Pope Klemens XII Corsini let the people visit this museums so it was first public museum on the world.
Anyway there is the most important collection of ancient sculpture in Rome there so if you are interested in art and culture you can't miss this place.
There are a lot of other art works like sculptures and paintings so you will have great time there.
The museums are located in the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. Palazzo Nuovo was designed by Michelangelo. Leave a Comment
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