Rome – North Rome

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Just north of the center of Rome is the vast area of Villa Borghese, which includes a large park and various museums. Further north, there are some other landmarks scattered throughout the northern half of the municipality of Rome. The Municipi II, III, IV, XIII, XIV, and XV are located here, as well as the northern portion of Municipio I.

✪ Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a huge landscape garden located just north of the center of Rome, which includes numerous landmarks. The main building is a 17th-century villa and houses the Galleria Borghese, one of the richest art collections in Rome. Among the several masterpieces hosted here are sculptures such as The Rape of Proserpina (Il Ratto di Proserpina) by Bernini and the Venus Victrix (Paolina Borghese) by Canova, and paintings by Raphael, Caravaggio, Correggio, Rubens, and Titian, among many others. Among the other landmarks in the landscape gardens around the villa are the 18th-century Temple of Aesculapius (Tempio di Esculapio), located on the shores of a small lake, and various other buildings and monuments. Here are also the Pietro Canonica Museum (Museo Pietro Canonica), dedicated to sculptor Pietro Canonica, and the Carlo Bilotti Museum (Museo Carlo Bilotti), which hosts a collection of modern artworks, mostly by De Chirico.

✪ National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art

The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea) is a large art museum located next to the park of Villa Borghese. The museum houses one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Italy, with works by artists such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, Canova, Klimt, Modigliani, and many others.

✪ National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia

The National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia (Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia) is a museum in Rome dedicated to the Etruscan civilization and hosted in a 16th-century villa. Its rich collection includes numerous ancient artworks, including the Sarcophagus of the Spouses (Sarcofago degli Sposi), a 6th-century BCE funerary monument regarded as one of the greatest works of Etruscan art.

Bioparco di Roma

Bioparco di Roma is a large zoological garden located next to the park of Villa Borghese. The zoo houses several animals from all over the world, and includes the Civic Museum of Zoology (Museo Civico di Zoologia), a museum of natural history featuring a large zoological collection.

Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum

The Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum (Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen) is a collection of 20th-century sculptures in Rome. The museum features works by Hendrik Christian Andersen and it is hosted in his former home and studio.

National Museum of 21st-Century Arts

Also known as: MAXXI

The National Museum of 21st-Century Arts (Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo) is a rich museum of contemporary art and architecture in Rome, hosted in a building designed by Zaha Hadid and featuring works by numerous Italian and international artists.

Auditorium Parco della Musica

Auditorium Parco della Musica is a modern cultural center in Rome, designed by Renzo Piano and featuring three concert halls and an outdoor theater. The area also hosts the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, and a small archaeological museum with the objects found here.

Ponte Milvio

Ponte Milvio is an ancient Roman bridge on the Tiber river erected in the year 109 BCE. It is known as the site of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in which Constantine I defeated Maxentius in the year 312. The structure was renovated in the Middle Ages and again in the 19th century.

Foro Italico

Foro Italico is a large sports complex in Rome, inaugurated in 1932. The main venue here is the Stadio Olimpico, one of the largest stadiums in Italy and the home stadium of football clubs Roma and Lazio. Next to it is the peculiar Stadio dei Marmi, adorned with several marble statues representing athletes. The area also houses various other sports venues and the Walk of Fame of Italian Sport (Walk of Fame dello Sport Italiano).

Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome

Also known as: MACRO

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma) is a collection of contemporary artworks in Rome. The museum houses works mostly by Italian artists and dating from the mid 20th century until today.

Villa Torlonia

Villa Torlonia is a villa and park in the Nomentano neighborhood of Rome. The large Neoclassical villa was erected in the early 19th century, and served as residence of Mussolini between 1925 and 1943. During this time, an underground bunker was built under the villa. The park hosts various attractions, and the buildings serve as museums, with collections of historic sculptures, paintings, furnishings, and other artworks.

Basilica of Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura

The Basilica of Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura is an ancient church in Rome, erected during the 7th century on the site of a previous Paleochristian basilica. The church houses a large 7th-century mosaic, while most of the other decorations date between the 17th and 19th century. Next to the church is the circular Mausoleum of Santa Costanza (Mausoleo di Santa Costanza), built in the 4th century and adorned with mosaics. Next to it are the ruins of the ancient Paleochristian basilica, also built in the 4th century. Under the complex are a series of catacombs dating from the age of the late Roman Empire.

Sapienza Museum Complex

The Sapienza Museum Complex (Polo Museale Sapienza) includes various museums of the Sapienza University of Rome. Among these are rich collections dedicated to zoology, anatomy, archaeology, art, anthropology, geology, botany, chemistry, physics, medicine, and more.

Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura is one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome. The church was built in the 6th century on the site of the supposed tomb of Saint Lawrence. Later reworked, the basilica was damaged during World War II, and was later restored with its ancient Paleochristian appearance. The church features some ancient mosaics and funerary monuments, including the tombs of some popes, Saint Lawrence, and Saint Stephen.

Cemetery of Campo Verano

The Cemetery of Campo Verano (Cimitero di Campo Verano) is a huge monumental cemetery located next to the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura in Rome. Erected in the early 19th century, the cemetery houses the tombs of many notable figures, and features many monuments and mausoleums.

Catacombs of Priscilla

The Catacombs of Priscilla (Catacombe di Priscilla) are a series of ancient burial sites in Rome, used between the 2nd and 4th century. The walls inside the catacombs feature some of the oldest known frescoes and paintings of Christian art.

Archaeological Area of Veii

Veii (Veio) was one of the richest and most important Etruscan cities, located just north of Rome. The town was conquered by the Romans in the 4th century BCE, and it was abandoned during the age of the late Roman Empire. Now, the archaeological area of the ancient town includes the ruins of a few structures, such as the temple known as Sanctuary of Portonaccio (Santuario di Portonaccio).