9 remarkable museums in Rome with free admission

Along with the famous museums of Rome, where tickets fly like hot cakes, in the Eternal City there are also free, but no less interesting. For example, the Museum of Souls in Purgatory, Napoleon, military equipment and even the wall. Travelers do not even suspect the existence of many of them, but, meanwhile, their visit can significantly add impressions to your trip. That is why BlogoItaliano decided to devote a separate article to them.

Villa Borghese

Take a stroll through Villa Borghese, a landscaped park located on Pincho Hill. Here among pine trees and magnolias there are many beautiful fountains and ancient statues. There is a small lake with a nice island. Located right in the park in the Orange Hothouse Museum of Contemporary Art Carlo Bilotti (Museo Carlo Bilotti) with a collection of paintings and sculptures, as well as a zoo, a botanical garden and several museums.

Museum of Contemporary Art Carlo Bilotti

Here, at Villa Borghese, you can visit house-museum Pietro Canonica (Museo Pietro Canonica), although free admission applies only to a permanent exhibition. Pietro Canonic (1869-1959) is a famous Italian sculptor, artist and composer who bequeathed all his works to the state.

Its sculptural groups and monuments to monarchs and noble aristocracy are installed in England, Turkey, Iraq, Italy and Russia. The museum’s exhibits were not only numerous copyright works of Canon, but also antique furniture, Flemish tapestries and paintings by Piedmontese artists (XIX century).

You can get to Villa Borghese by climbing the steps of the famous Spanish Stairs or from the Piazza del Popolo, following the signs.

Official website of the Carlo Bilotti Museum: museocarlobilotti.it

Official site of the Pietro Canonica Museum: museocanonica.it

On the territory of Villa Borghese there is also one of the most inaccessible museums in Rome - the Borghese Gallery. In more detail about her, as well as about the famous collection BlogoItaliano wrote in a separate article.

Important! At the box office of the Borghese Gallery it is often impossible to purchase tickets on the day of the visit. Therefore, it is better to order them in advance - via the Internet. You can do this on this page.

Pantheon (Pantheon)

Perhaps the most famous of the free sights of Rome (although the language doesn’t turn it into a museum, we could not remain silent). Built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, today it is one of the visiting cards of the Italian capital. The famous temple of all the Gods, which later became the Christian sanctuary, is also the place where the graves of famous Italians such as Raphael and King Victor Emmanuel II are located.

The Roman Pantheon was built under Emperor Augustus about 2 thousand years ago

At one time, BlogoItaliano devoted a separate article to the Pantheon, and in addition, the “Temple of All Gods” is one of the main points on our route for an independent tour of Rome for 1 day. If you have not watched it yet, we recommend you do it right now. A step-by-step route allows you to cover the most important thing in the Eternal City, and also contains many life hacks and useful recommendations that will save you a lot of time and help you see more than most travelers have time to do.

Address: Piazza della Rotonda (Piazza della Rotonda).

Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 19.00.

National Academy of St. Luke (Accademia Nazionale di San Luca)

Visit the National Academy of St. Luke, located on the square of the same name in the Palazzo Carpegna building (16th century). Today there is an art gallery where you can see sculptures and canvases of Italian, French and Flemish masters, most of which date back to the XVII-XVIII centuries.

Sculptures and canvases of Italian, French and Flemish masters are collected here.

Address: Piazza dell'Academia di San Luca, 77.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 10.00 to 12.30

Official site:accademiasanluca.it

Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum

Go to the Hendrick Christian Andersen House Museum (do not confuse it with the famous storyteller). Hendrik Andersen is a Norwegian sculptor, urban planner and painter who settled in Rome at the end of the 19th century and lived in the capital of Italy for more than forty years. Today, in his Art Deco-style villa, there is a museum with an interesting collection of graphics, paintings and sculptures, which Andersen bequeathed to the Italian state.

A museum with an interesting collection of graphics, paintings and sculptures

Many of his works are made with a clear erotic connotation. People with a sense of humor will surely like it here, but sensitive snobs and natures will probably feel some awkwardness, considering the artist’s too frank works.

Address: Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, 20

Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday from 9:30 to 18:30; Saturday-Sunday from 9:30 to 19:30

Official site: museoandersen.beniculturali.it

Purgatory Museum of Souls (Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio)

The Museum of Souls in Purgatory will be interesting to lovers of mysticism. It is called one of the most unusual museums in Rome (and indeed the whole old woman of Europe), and it is very popular among tourists. This strange museum is located in the sacristy of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Christ (Sacro Cuore di Gesu 'in Prati). The building of the basilica, made in the Gothic style, in itself makes a strong impression, it is often called the miniature Milan Duomo.

The museum is located in the sacristy of the Church of the Holy Heart of Christ, reminiscent of the Duomo of Milan

All exhibits of the museum are original, for many years they gathered all over Italy, many were brought from Belgium and Germany. In total, more than a hundred artifacts that are carefully guarded by the ministers of the church. Here you can see the imprints of the soles on the floorboards, fingers and hands left by the souls of the deceased on household items, paper and fabrics. All this is interpreted as a peculiar way to declare oneself from "the other world" and ask the living for prayer and help.

To get to this museum of Rome, you need to contact a priest who will always open the door and show everything that is here. Although the entrance to the premises is absolutely free, a small donation to the needs of the church is always welcome.

Address: Via Ulpiano, 29. Sacro Cuore di Gesu 'in Prati. In walking distance from the Castle of St. Angela

Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 17.00 to 19.00.

Theater Museum of Burcardo (Museo Teatrale del Burcardo)

Representatives of creative professions and theatergoers will enjoy visiting the Theater Museum of Burcardo, open to the general public since 1932. This Roman museum has an amazing collection of stage costumes, puppet dolls, posters, photographs and performance programs, portraits of Italian actors, elements of stage decorations , figures of theatrical characters in costumes of different eras, and much more.

Here is an amazing collection of stage costumes, puppet dolls, posters, etc.

Most of the exhibits were collected by Luigi Razi (1852-1918) - an actor and playwright who devoted his life to the theater and the study of its history.

Address: Via del Sudario, 44. Palazzetto del Burcardo (Palazzo Burcardo XV century)

The museum is open: on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.15 to 16.30.

Official site: burcardo.org

Napoleon Museum (Museo Napoleonico)

Everyone who is interested in the personality of the legendary French commander and emperor, have the opportunity to visit the Napoleon Museum, located in the Primoli Palace, built in the XVI century. Its exhibits, located in 13 rooms, will help to find out more unknown and piquant details about the life of the Bonaparte family. The museum exhibits a lot of personal items, portraits, documents, awards and weapons, there are jewelry, furniture and porcelain. Here is presented not so much the history of a famous family as a whole era.

The museum of Napoleon presents not so much the history of a famous family as a whole era

Address: Piazza di Ponte Umberto I. Palazzo Primoli. From Navona Square to the museum is only 5 minutes walk, and from the Castle of St. Angela walking will take no more than 10 minutes.

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00.

Official website: museonapoleonico.it

Museum of the Wall (Museo delle Mura)

This museum will be interesting to lovers of antiquity, because the wall built by Emperor Aurelian in 271-275. AD to protect Rome from the attack of enemies, has witnessed many stories.

In ancient times, this powerful fortification with many towers, loopholes and underground corridors protected all seven Roman hills, and its length reached 19 km. Of course, for so many centuries she had to go through more than one restoration, but the 12 km of walls that have survived to this day are a real relic. The Aurelian Wall Museum is located at the gates of St. Sebastian (Porta San Sebatiano) and occupies seven rooms. The exhibits located in them will tell the history of the ancient Roman wall from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the modern period.

The wall was built by Emperor Aurelian in 271-275. AD

Address: Via di Porta San Sebastiano (near the Basilica of Domine Quo Vadis).

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 9.00 to 14.00.

Official website: museodellemuraroma.it

Military History Museum of Military Equipment (Museo Storico della Motorizzazione Militare)

Connoisseurs of retro cars in this museum of Rome will be delighted - all the achievements of Italian industry for more than a hundred years are collected here: about three hundred cars, motorcycles and about 60 units of armored vehicles.

Among the exhibits there are weapons, samples of missiles and shells, uniforms, sets of field utensils, etc. And, although the main emphasis in the collection is made on military vehicles (starting from 1903), there are also such cars as, for example, sports one ” Alfa Romeo "Tazio Nuvolari (the first Italian crew with an internal combustion engine), transport, carrying presidents, etc.

The museum contains all the achievements of Italian industry for more than a hundred years

It should be said that this museum is not quite ordinary, as it is located on the territory of the military base and is open for visits only on Saturdays. You can get to the checkpoint, where you will have to leave documents (passport or rights) for the pass, a soldier will show the way to the museum.

Address: Southern suburb of Rome - Cecinola, Viale dell'Esercito, 170.

Viale dell Eserchito, 170, Cecchignola 00143, Roma

Opening hours: Saturday from 9.00 to 12.00. You should come to the opening.

Free Sunday: Holiday Tourist Balloons

Since July 2014, all state museums receive visitors for free throughout Italy throughout the first Sunday of the month. This rule applies to such significant objects as the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Roman Colosseum, Pompeii, etc.

On this whole holiday of life there is only one unpleasant nuance - huge lines. Therefore, if you decide to visit the museum on a free Sunday, come there in advance, preferably before opening.

Long lines (although, of course, a little less than on a free Sunday) are characteristic of the most popular museums in the capital of Italy, regardless of the season. For this reason, BlogoItaliano a few years ago made a list of the most interesting museums in Rome, where it makes sense to buy tickets in advance.

All the museums discussed in this article, as well as other main sights of Rome, can be found in our mobile Rome guide for iPhone, which works even without the Internet. Be sure to watch the video below how this application can help you navigate in Rome. Especially if you are coming to the Eternal City for the first time:

By the way, if at these very moments you are planning your trip to Italy, subscribe on BlogoItaliano Free Course, where we shared a lot of useful life hacks on how to make your trip even more interesting.

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