Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan: History, Story and Secrets
Few works of art are as famous as Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan. Painted at the end of the 15th century, the masterpiece has fascinated visitors, historians, and
The Capitoline Museum is one of Rome’s greatest cultural treasures. Located on Capitoline Hill, it is the oldest public museum in the world, founded in 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV donated a collection of ancient bronzes to the people of Rome.
Today, it offers an extraordinary journey through history, from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance.
If you’re planning a visit (and you should), here are the 10 must-see highlights in the Capitoline Museum you shouldn’t miss.
The Capitoline Museum presents a fascinating glimpse into the ancient roots of Rome in its Temple of Jupiter display. Visitors can admire the impressive foundations built of cappellaccio blocks from the 6th century BC, along with the rare “Roman Wall” – the only surviving podium structure still standing to its full height
A bright gallery, integrated into the former stables and overlooking the Caffarelli Garden, showcases archaeological reconstructions and models alongside the remains excavated in 2000 in the “Roman Garden”—the foundation of the vast exedra of Marcus Aurelius
This area highlights the colossal dimensions of the Temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva—originally built by Tarquinius Priscus and Tarquinius Superbus in the 6th century BC, then inaugurated in 509 BC.
One of the most iconic works in the Capitoline Museum, this ancient bronze statue from the 5th century BC depicts the legendary she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. It is an enduring symbol of the city’s mythology and an unmissable piece for any visitor.
Dating to around 175 AD, this monumental bronze statue of the Roman emperor on horseback is one of the few surviving bronzes from antiquity. The Capitoline Museum proudly displays it in the Piazza del Campidoglio and inside the museum, making it one of its most impressive highlights.
A masterpiece of Hellenistic art, this marble statue represents a wounded Gallic warrior in his final moments. Its realism and emotional impact make it a highlight of the Capitoline Museum and a must-see for anyone interested in ancient sculpture.
The Capitoline Museum preserves nine monumental marble fragments—a head, hands, knees, ankles, and feet—of the 12‑metre-high Colossus of Constantine, originally seated in the Basilica of Maxentius between 313 and 324 AD.
These remnants, discovered in 1486 during Pope Innocent VIII’s reign, were later displayed in Michelangelo’s Palazzo dei Conservatori courtyard, now part of the Capitoline Museum.
Since February 2024, a full-scale 13-meter 3D‑printed reconstruction of the statue, crafted using photogrammetry and digital scans of the original fragments, stands in the Villa Caffarelli garden at the Capitoline Museum. The reproduction, made in resin, marble powder, and gold leaf, shows Constantine seated in a divine pose—holding a scepter and orb, draped like Jupiter—and highlights his deified representation.
The Capitoline Museum houses fragments of the colossal bronze statue of Emperor Constantine I, originally erected in the 4th century AD. This monumental sculpture, likely standing around 12 meters tall, depicted Constantine in a seated pose, embodying the grandeur of Roman imperial art.
The surviving pieces include:
These fragments offer a glimpse into the scale and artistic achievement of late antique sculpture. Displayed in the museum’s Exedra of Marcus Aurelius, they provide valuable insights into the artistic and political symbolism of the era.
An exquisite Roman copy of a Greek original, the Capitoline Venus portrays the goddess of love in a graceful, modest pose. Celebrated for its beauty and elegance, it is among the most admired pieces in the Capitoline Museum.
This striking marble bust shows the emperor Commodus as the hero Hercules, complete with lion skin and club. It’s a dramatic piece that reflects imperial propaganda and is one of the most intriguing works in the Capitoline Museum.
In 142 BCE, the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus built a temple to Hercules in the Forum Boarium, near the Ara Maxima and the Circus Maximus. It was part of a major public works program by the Aemilia family, which also included the Pons Aemilius, the Basilica Aemilia, and large warehouses.
During the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV (1471–1484), a gilded bronze statue of Hercules was discovered near the temple site. Now preserved in the Capitoline Museum, this masterpiece shows the hero holding three golden apples, a clear reference to his eleventh labor—the theft of the apples from the Garden of the Hesperides.
The colossal marble statue known as Marforio likely represents a river god—variously identified as Oceanus, Neptune, or the Tiber. Discovered in the Forum of Augustus (also known as Martis Forum), it became famous as one of Rome’s six “talking statues,” where satirical messages were publicly posted.
In the late 16th century, Pope Sixtus V moved Marforio first to Piazza San Marco and then, in 1592, to a fountain on the Capitoline Hill designed by Giacomo Della Porta.
Later, with the construction of Palazzo Nuovo, Marforio was placed in its courtyard, where it remains today as part of the Capitoline Museum collection.
From the Capitoline Museum you have an amazing view of the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum
Exploring the Capitoline Museum means immersing yourself in more than two thousand years of history.
From legendary bronzes to emotional marble masterpieces, each gallery reveals a different chapter of Rome’s story.
Interested in visiting the Capitoline Museum with a private, expert guide? Check out our Capitoline Museum Tour! We’re waiting for you.
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