Rome's Hidden Gem: The World's First Public Museum

When in Rome, besides the Colosseum and the Vatican, this often-overlooked museum is actually the world’s first museum open to the public! ❕ 🗿 Must-See Sculptures - Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (Original): A rare bronze statue of a Roman emperor. The original is housed in the museum, while the one in the square is a replica. ​ - Spinario (The Boy with the Thorn): A sculpture of a boy intently removing a thorn from his foot, dating back to the 1st century BCE! ​ - Lupa Capitolina (Capitoline Wolf): The wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus, a symbol of Rome’s founding myth. ​ - Dying Gaul (No Photo Taken): A masterpiece depicting the pathos and dignity of an enemy, representing the pinnacle of classical sculpture. 🧱 Fragments of the Colossus of Constantine (Courtyard Exhibition Area) Fragments of Constantine the Great’s statue are on display in the courtyard. Its head alone is 2.6 meters tall, and the full seated statue is estimated to have been over 12 meters high. 🎬 Pop Culture Tie-In These fragments also appeared in the opening scene of director Paolo Sorrentino’s film La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty). 🌿 Outdoor Highlights - The square’s steps were designed by Michelangelo. ​ - The platform at the back offers a broad view, with distant sights of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. 📷 Pro Tip Visit around dusk – the setting sun casts light on the sculptures and historic relics, creating a dreamy atmosphere with intertwined light and shadow. Musei Capitolini 📍 Piazza del Campidoglio 🕑 Open daily, 9:30am-7:30pm #CapitolineMuseums #CapitolineWolf #Spinario #StatueOfConstantine #TheGreatBeauty #AncientRomanRuins #RomeTravel #RomeMuseums #Rome