Discover the splendors of the Ancient World
Our Capitoline Museums tour will help give face, form and expression to the gods and to the key personalities who inhabited the squares, temples and houses of Ancient Rome. You can see the splendid gilded bronze statue of Hercules, the formidable statue of Mars in full military dress, the pensive Group of Polyphemus, the Drunken Faun carved from ancient red marble, the equally splendid Centaur, and dozens of other extraordinary sculptures. Above all, you can admire the perfection of the original bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, with its minute attention to detail apparent in the emperor's beard, veins and rather incredible sandals. The copy of this statue stands in Piazza Campidoglio. On our itinerary you'll come across the very famous remains of the colossal statue of the Emperor Constantine, his head, hand and foot all etched with their long history. The Dying Gaul will touch you with his pained expression and show of courage. The mosaics of the Doves and the Theatrical Masks are immortal symbols that all of us have seen in our school books. As no doubt is the case with the legendary statue of the She-wolf, the product of Etruscan workshops from the fifth century BC, which has since become a symbol of the city. The museum also houses the busts of Cicero, Julius Caesar, Nero, Homer, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
The adjoining picture gallery is also rich in important works of art which include amongst others, two beautiful paintings by Caravaggio. Our talented guide will help you to appreciate these works in all their meaning. The two buildings of the museum are connected via a subterranean tunnel that runs beneath the imposing structure of the Roman Tabularium (first century BC), from which you can enjoy the best view of Ancient Rome. You will admire the Colosseum, the Imperial Forum, the entire valley of the Roman Forum with its evocative ruis, and the Palatine Hill. With our guide explaining the function of the buildings in front of you, you will get the utmost from this enchanting experience.