Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CharmingFaustospeaksEnglishandremindsyouthathis“plasticsecretary”(atipbox)isat
the end of the curb. He may be mini compared to the nearby museum, but for me he's more
entertaining than the MAXXI.
Thesesightsarewithina10-minute walkofthetrainstation. ByMetro,usetheTermini stop
for the National Museum and the Repubblica stop for the rest.
The National Museum's main branch, at Palazzo Massimo, houses the greatest collection of
ancient Roman art anywhere. It's a historic yearbook of Roman marble statues with some
rare Greek originals. On the ground floor alone, you can look eye-to-eye with Julius and
Augustus Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Socrates.
On the first floor, along with statues and busts showing such emperors as Trajan and
Hadrian, you'll see the best-preserved Roman copy of the Greek
Discus Thrower
. Statues
of athletes like this commonly stood in the baths, where Romans cultivated healthy bodies,
minds, and social skills, hoping to lead well-rounded lives. Other statues on this floor ori-
ginally stood in the pleasure gardens of the Roman rich—surrounded by greenery with the
splashing sound of fountains, all painted in bright, lifelike colors. Though executed by Ro-
mans, the themes are mostly Greek, with godlike humans and human-looking gods.
The second floor contains frescoes and mosaics that once decorated the walls and floors
of Roman villas. They're remarkably realistic and unstuffy, featuring everyday people, an-
imals, flowery patterns, and geometrical designs. The Villa Farnesina frescoes—in black,
red, yellow, and blue—are mostly architectural designs, with fake columns, friezes, and gar-
lands. The Villa di Livia frescoes, owned by the wily wife of Augustus, immerse you in a
leafy green garden full of birds and fruit trees, symbolizing the gods.
Finally, descend into the basement to see fine gold jewelry, dice, an abacus, and vault
doors leading into the best coin collection in Europe, with fancy magnifying glasses man-
euvering you through cases of coins from ancient Rome to modern times.
Cost and Hours:
€10 combo-ticket covers three other branches—all skippable, Tue-
Sun 9:00-19:45, closed Mon, last entry 45 minutes before closing, audioguide-€5, about
100 yards from train station, Metro: Repubblica or Termini, tel. 06-3996-7700,
ht-
tp://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/en
. The museum is about 100 yards from Termini train sta-
tion—as you leave the station, it's the sandstone-brick building on your left. Enter at the far
end, at Largo di Villa Peretti.
