National Roman Museum

Experience Rome’s great history from four unique locations.

Enjoy entry to the National Roman Museum with the Omnia Rome and Vatican Pass

• Entry to four museums: Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Massimo and Terme di Diocleziano.
• As part of this Rome and Vatican pass package, you’ll also receive an Omnia Card, which allows you free entry to Vatican attractions, as well as the Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

Founded on 7 March 1889, The National Roman Museum was initially situated at the site of the Baths of Diocletian and in part of the Michelangelo Cloister. It wasn’t until the start of the 1980s and the introduction of the Special Law for Roman Antiquities in 1981, that the museum acquired the Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo, as well as the entire city block making up the Crypta Balbi, and the substantial restoration of the Baths of Diocletian. 

These locations were then reorganised into four sites with a specific focus. The Palazzo Altemps was dedicated to historical and art collections. Palazzo Massimo became the showcase of Roman artistic production. The Baths of Diocletian were used to accommodate the Museum of Written Communication and the Museum of the Protohistory of the Latin Peoples.

Highlights

Crypta Balbi – The museum tells the story of a small city block between Via delle Botteghe Oscure, Via Caetani, Via dei Delfini and Via dei Polacchi. Modern excavation has uncovered traces of many who lived in this area, bringing to light architectural remains, objects and work tools. The Museum preserves these findings and displays the structures, buildings and monuments that have existed over the course of two thousand years.

Palazzo Altemps – Venture through this once aristocratic mansion which now houses a wonderful collection of masterpieces from ancient Egyptian sculptures to prestigious noble collections now owned by the Italian Government.

Palazzo Massimo –The Palazzo Massimo houses some of the greatest masterpieces of the ancient Roman world across its four floors. The impressive collection consists of sculptures, reliefs, frescos, mosaics, stuccoes and sarcophagi, discovered during the many excavations undertaken in Rome and the surrounding region from 1870 onwards. 

The Coin and Medal Collection of the National Roman Museum – View The Coin and Medal Collection (Medagliere) consisting of more than half a million items, including coins medals, monetary weights, tiles and minting items as well as gems, jewellery, precious ornaments and valuable metal artefacts. 

The Gallery of Paintings and Mosaics – Discover the art of emperors and members of Roman high society in The Gallery of Paintings and Mosaics. 

The Portrait Gallery – Visit The Portrait Gallery, depicting the many faceless figures that have been memorialised throughout history. 

The Sculpture Gallery – See a collection of statues inspired by the spoils of war captured from Greece in the museum’s Sculpture Gallery. 

Bronzes and Ivories – See this exciting collection and learn about the distinct characteristics of bronze and ivory, both of which became hugely popular when creating one-of-a-kind masterpieces for wealthy families which resembled buffed gold and dazzling art kissed by the sun.

Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) – Constructed between 298 and 306 AD, this 13-hectare complex has become known for its exceptional state of preservation. The Charterhouse of Santa Maria Degli Angeli, a famous church commissioned by the Pope, was later constructed in the area.

The Museum of Written Communication in the Roman World – View one of the most significant collections of inscriptions in the world, containing around 20,000 items.

The Museum of the Protohistory of the Latin Peoples – Discover the development of the culture of Latium from the Bronze Age up to the Orientalising Period.

Did you know

• The Crypta Balbi is situated on the same site as one of ancient Rome’s smallest theatres, constructed in 13 BC by the Proconsul of Africa, Lucius Cornelius Balbus, a Spaniard from Cádiz, using riches garnered from his victorious campaigns in Libya.
• Inspired by the magnificent palaces of the 16th century, Palazzo Massimo was built between 1883 and 1887 by the Jesuit priest Massimiliano Massimo, based on a design by Camillo Pistrucci, to house the new Jesuit school. It wasn’t until 1981 that the Palazzo was acquired by the Italian Government and turned into one of the new sites for the National Roman Museum.

Make the most of your pass package

As part of this Rome and Vatican pass package, you’ll also receive a Roma Pass which gives you free entry to your choice of two Rome attractions, plus discounted entry to many more. You’ll also have a 72-hour travel card to help you breeze between attractions with ease. 

Getting in: simply show your pass upon arrival.

Please note: to accommodate the restrictions in place because of the Covid-19 health emergency, a one-way visit route has been established for each of the Museum’s sites in order to avoid visitor flows crossing wherever possible. Please visit the attraction website for the latest visit routes.

How to get there:

Museum Locations

Palazzo Altemps - Piazza di Sant'Apollinare, 46, 00186 Roma RM

Palazzo Massimo - Largo di Villa Peretti, 2, 00185 Roma RM

Baths of Diocletian - Viale Enrico de Nicola, 78, 00185 Roma RM

Crypta Balbi - Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31, 00186 Roma RM

Please visit the attraction website for directions to each museum as well as bus and metro information.