Rome's top three museums for art and history

A visit to Rome is rich in culture, history and tradition. Any visitor will fall in love with the city and be overwhelmed by the deep running traditions and heritage of the Roman people. There’s no better place to experience this than by visiting the wealth of museums within Rome, accessible with your Roma Pass and OMNIA Card. Both cultural and historical, there are museums that exhibit the city’s artistic and social past. We thought we’d look at top three and share with you why they are must-sees: Vatican Museums Arguably the most famous museums in Rome, the Vatican Museums are a cultural pilgrimage as much as a religious one. Set in the Vatican City they are home to some of the most priceless art and sculptures in the world. This vast set of interconnecting museums measure over 9 miles, so you’re best to dedicate a good half day to exploring the departments and salas at leisure. Some of the highlights of the museum include the Papal Throne, the Sistine Chapel, and various galleries displaying ancient statues, busts, maps and tapestries. Its 1,400 rooms are brimming with art dating back from Ancient Egypt to the 20th century. So there’s something for everyone. Obviously there’s a deep spiritual undercurrent and theme behind all the works collected and on display in the Vatican Museums so visitors can learn about the Papal history and Roman Catholic influence over art works through the ages. Some of the artists featured in this renowned museum are Michelangelo – who’s Last Judgement can’t be missed – Raphael and Bernini, among others. National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo This fortified castle, and mausoleum, is one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks and sits impressively on the northern bank of the River Tiber. The National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo is a must-visit for anyone interested in history and is otherwise known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Interlinked with the Vatican – there’s a secret passage underground that links the two together once used for papal refuge – the museum of Castel Sant’Angelo is home to Papal apartments of the (infamous) Borgia Pope Alexander VI and display the lavish decorations and furniture collected by these heads of the Church. Visitors can also admire the Hall of Urns where it’s believed the ashes of Hadrian are kept, symbolically, right in the centre of the stronghold. Capitoline Museums Rome’s Capitoline Museums are some of the best collections of ancient Roman art and archaeology. Originally built as the ‘people’s museum’ it’s also believed to be the first museum in Rome – and the world’s oldest national museums – founded in 1471 by Pope Sixtus IV. One of the many highlights of the collection is Rome’s national symbol, the She Wolf and Romulus and Remus. The collections also contain ancient sculptures, statues, sarcophagi, mosaics and ruins of ancient dwellings from the Roman Forum. Set within three buildings, there is so much to be discovered about Rome’s rich history and culture – as well as Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek cultures. The Capitoline Museums give visitors a unique insight into Rome’s important history and you won’t be disappointed! With the Roma Pass you can get free entry into the Capitoline Museums and the Museum of Rome for free and many other historic sites like the Coliseum and the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill at a discounted price.