About
Palazzo Massimo is a museum in Rome, Italy, set in the Lazio region at Largo di Villa Peretti 2, in the 00185 postal area. It is also known as the National Roman Museum Palazzo Massimo, or Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, and it forms part of the wider Museo Nazionale Romano.
What you will see
The museum is devoted to ancient Roman art. Its collection includes frescoes, mosaics and classical sculptures, and the frescoes and mosaics are the works most often singled out for attention. For a visitor interested in how Roman painting and decoration looked, and in the range of sculpture produced in antiquity, the building offers a focused and substantial look at these arts.
What kind of visit it makes
Palazzo Massimo suits anyone who wants to spend time with original ancient works rather than only reading about them. It works well:
- for visitors with a particular interest in classical sculpture, fresco or mosaic
- as a half-day or longer stop, given the depth of the collection
- as a complement to other ancient sites in the city
Around the museum
The museum stands in central Rome, so it can be combined easily with other parts of the city. Rome itself offers an enormous concentration of ancient, medieval, Renaissance and baroque heritage, and a visit here sits naturally alongside that wider exploration. Calling ahead on +39 06 3996 7700 is a sensible step if you want to check details before you go.
