Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
13. Capitoline Museums and the Piazza del Campidoglio
Located in Piazza del Campidoglio, at the summit of Rome's Capitoline Hill, the Capitoline
Museums house a collection of both art and archeological treasures. The Trapezoidal Piazza
and its surrounding buildings were first conceived by Michelangelo in 1536 and construction
continued for over 400 years.
The history can be traced to 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV made a donation of ancient bronzes
to the City of Rome. They were housed in a structure on Capitoline Hill, which later become
one of the center points for the preservation of Roman history. Since that first donation, the
collections have grown to include a number of ancient artifacts from around the world, as
well an impressive collection of Renaissance and medieval art. Also included are an incred-
ible collection of rare coins and jewels from around the globe. Owned and run by the Roman
municipality, the Capitoline collections are a popular destination for the international tour-
ists that flock to Rome.
In the center of Piazza del Campidoglio is a statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, mounted
on a horse. This is actually a replica of the original, which is housed nearby in the Musei
Capitolini (gallery).
