Palazzo Massimo
Palazzo Massimo
MUSEO NAZIONALE ROMANO
palazzo massimo alle terme
The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is home to a fine collection of Ancient Roman art. Sounds a bit dry, I know, but it’s really not! This museum was my favourite attraction in Rome – no crowds, great art and a great audio guide! Absolutely fantastic!
My Rating:
The positives:
The sculpture collection is first-rate, packed with many wonderful pieces. If ancient civilizations are your thing, this is the place for you! The audio guide is also excellent.
The negatives:
I honestly can’t think of anything, except perhaps that you have to pay for a new audio guide in each of the four museums.
Top tip:
Your ticket gives you entry to all four locations that make up the National Roman Museum. The most popular is the Palazzo Massimo and most visitors head there first. Don’t follow the crowd! Instead, buy your ticket online and collect it from one of the other museums. When you head to the Palazzo Massimo later, you’ll be able to walk straight in and avoid the queue.
Last Modified: 12.03.2024 | Céline
Palazzo Massimo
Tickets
Museo Nazionale Romano
EUR 38admission to the 4 museums of Museo Nazionale Romano (Crypte not available right now) + 3D visor on the Piazza Navona + 25-minute multimedia video + Virtual experince Audiovideoguide of the Navona Square
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The details
at a glance
Info
The ticket is valid for 3 days and entitles you to enter the 4 partial museums:
Palazzo Massimo alla Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Baths of Diocletian, Crypt Balbi.
Attention: on the 1st Sunday of the month, all 4 museums have free entry!
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Roma Pass
The Palazzo Massimo is on the list of museums and sights you can visit with the Roma Pass.
The Roma Pass is valid for 48 or 72 hours.
-> Find out more about the Roma Pass
The Roma Pass is also included with the 72-hour Omnia Card.
-> Find out more about the Omnia Card
PALAZZO MASSIMO
Photo Gallery
What is there
to see?
The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is home to a fine collection of Ancient Roman art and artefacts. Spread over four floors, the museum contains sculptures, frescos, mosaics and coins, dating from the late Roman Republic right through to late antiquity. The sculptures portray many famous figures, including Augustus, Hadrian, Socrates and Alexander the Great, as well as depicting classical gods and myths. Exploring the collection gives you a fantastic insight into the ancient world – its history, its myths and everyday life.
There are two stand-out pieces on the ground floor. The first is a Greek bronze figure, discovered here in Rome, entitled ‘Boxer at Rest’ or sometimes ‘Boxer of the Quirinal’. The sculpture is brilliantly displayed. Just make sure you go right round it and get a really good look at the boxer’s scars. The second is a sculpture of the Emperor Augustus, which is striking for portraying him as the pontifex maximus or chief priest.
On the first floor, you will find portraits of many of the Roman emperors, including Hadrian and Vespasian. There are also sculptures of Aphrodite, Hermaphroditus and – my third personal highlight – the ‘Discobolus’ or discus thrower. I was curious to see whether this ‘Discobolus’ would live up to the one in the Liebieghaus sculpture collection in Frankfurt, and it certainly did not disappoint. Both are brilliant!
The top floor contains a collection of frescos, including some from the Villa Farnesina, and also a number of sarcophagi. And in the basement you’ll find the museum’s extensive coin collection.
With so much to see, the Palazzo Massimo was, undoubtedly, the surprise highlight of my most recent trip to Rome.
Top Sculpture
BOXER AT REST
The Boxer at Rest, also known as the Boxer of the Quirinal, is an original bronze sculpture that dates back to some time between the 4th and 1st century B.C. Considering it’s at least 2000 years old, it’s in amazing condition as one of very few intact Greek originals we have the good fortune to still have around.
The bronze statue was found on the Quirinal, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, in 1885. That explains where one of its names comes from! It was uncovered as part of the archaeological work to excavate the remains of the Baths of Constantine along with another statue called the Hellenistic Prince, which you can find in the same room in the museum now.
But we’re going to stick with our boxer at rest here.
Researchers cannot seem to reach an agreement on who the statue is supposed to represent. Some suggest it is nothing more than a depiction of a generic boxer, whilst others believe that this particular boxer is actually Amycus, King of the Bebryces. But we don’t have time to get into that discussion now!
Let’s take a closer look at the boxer instead because he’s absolutely fascinating. When you’re standing in front of the sculpture, make sure you walk all the way around it. Lean in and take a closer look (but not too close because you’ll set off the ear-piercing alarm).
Can you see his scars? On his face, shoulders and arms? What about that nose? It looks like it may have been broken more than once! And don’t forget those swollen ears! He must be a skilled athlete, though, as he is still alert and turning his head despite all those injuries. Even after examining him up close, there’s no way of knowing for certain if he won or lost the fight!
DISCUS THROWER
The DISCOBOLUS
Here we have another athlete at the Palazzo Massimo – but this time it’s a discus thrower made of marble.
The two marble sculptures here dating back to the 2nd century A.D. are a copy of the bronze original by Myron. And one has been really well preserved!
The sculpture on the right here was found on the Esquiline Hill in Rome in 1781 and is one of six known copies. The Lancelotti Discobolus, as it is sometimes also known as a nod to the fact it was first put on display at Lancelotti Palace, is the most significant of them all given its excellent condition.
But what exactly can we see?
Once again, I recommend walking around the incredible statue and taking it in from all angles. Looking at it front on, we can see a youthful male athlete who is strong and proud. He is just building up momentum and is about to throw his discus.
You can pick out his muscles, his ribs and the veins on his arms and hands. He has a fairly relaxed look on his face as if he knows exactly what he is doing. Myron – and indeed whoever is responsible for the marble copy – focused on all these little details to make the statue look as realistic as possible.
If you do get a chance to look at the statue from behind, you will probably notice that the discus thrower doesn’t look quite so sharp anymore.
Palazzo Massimo
A bit of history
The Palazzo Massimo was designed by the architect Camillo Pistrucci in a neo-renaissance style and built between 1883 and 1887 on the site of the former Villa Montalto Peretti. It was commissioned by Prince Massimiliano Massimo, who had acquired the estate and wanted to provide a new home for the Collegio Romano, a Jesuit school which had been ousted from its former seat in the church of Sant’Ignazio. Once the building work was complete, the school moved in and became one of the most prestigious schools in Rome.
During the Second World War, however, the building was commandeered by the authorities for use as a military hospital. After the war, the school did briefly return but in 1960 it moved to a new site in the EUR district.
In 1981, the Italian government bought the Palazzo Massimo for 19 million lira and decided to use it as part of the new National Roman Museum. The renovation work started in 1983 and lasted 15 years.
In 1998, the museum finally opened its doors across all four locations, including its main collection in the Palazzo Massimo. The Palazzo Massimo is also home to the agency of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities responsible for the archaeological heritage of Rome.
Official website (EN): museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it
Copyright: © Céline Mülich, 2016 – 2024
