The Capitoline Museums on Capitoline Hill claim to be the world’s oldest public museum. Inside you’ll find iconic pieces: the bronze Capitoline Wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, the Dying Gaul, and the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, one of the few bronze statues from antiquity to survive intact. The museums also display colossal fragments of the statue of Constantine and overlook the Roman Forum. Open daily 9:30-19:30, the museum offers free entry on the first Sunday of the month and a 50 % discount on Wednesday evenings.
Visiting essentials
- Book online: Avoid queues, especially on free days.
- Allow time: At least two hours to see the highlights; more if you love ancient art.
- Enjoy the view: The terrace offers some of the best panoramas over the Forum.
If you like ancient Rome, the Capitoline Museums are not optional filler. They connect the myths, politics, and ruins you see outside.