Established in the late 15th century, Rome’s Capitoline Museums provide an impressive look at Roman art and archaeology.
Situated at the Campidoglio square on top of the Capitoline Hill – thus their name – the Capitoline Museums are a must-see for visitors who are entranced by ancient Roman history and welcome the chance to view some of the city’s best treasures.
The museums, housed in two palaces, are situated around a central square – or piazza – designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1536 and completed over a period of more than 400 years. The museums are connected via an underground tunnel, which also leads to the ancient Tabularium.
The origins of the museums can be traced a little further back – to 1471 – when Pope Sixtus IV donated his impressive collection of ancient bronzes to the city for public viewing. He placed them in a structure atop Capitoline Hill. The museums are now owned by the city.
