Museo della Civiltà Romana
Museo della Civiltà Romana
4
About
The museum is closed due to restoration works. The Museum of Roman Culture unites in its halls and extraordinary and rich display of various aspects of ancient Rome, documented in their entirety, through the combination of casts, models and reconstructions of works conserved in museums throughout the world and of monuments from all over the Roman Empire.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: EUR
How to get there
- Laurentina • 7 min walk
- EUR Fermi • 9 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
75 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
16
Average
11
Poor
8
Terrible
7
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Gioia911
Rome, Italy3 contributions
Aug 2023
Recently reopened to the public, it offers, in an immense and well-distributed space, the history, habits and customs of Roman civilization.
Particular attention to a floor dedicated to prehistoric finds.
Kindness from the people in charge.
Too bad about the outside, with unedifying barriers and waste.
Recommended for schools.
Joy
Particular attention to a floor dedicated to prehistoric finds.
Kindness from the people in charge.
Too bad about the outside, with unedifying barriers and waste.
Recommended for schools.
Joy
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ville
Lempaala, Finland755 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
This is simply our favourite historical museum in Rome, if not in the world. It is located in the district of EUR, which is well worth the visit anyway for its futuristic architecture, and architecture from the Italy of the 30's, which is interesting too, albeit also a bit chilling. A long walk around the district is a deeply educational experience. The museum itself is an impressive building or rather a pair of buildings, clearly aimed at highlighting the Imperial history of Rome and the assumed resurgence of the Empire in the 30's. However, for us Europeans its iconography is not only reminiscent of dark things but also of the great comic series "Asterix" and its own caricature and anachronisms.
The museum itself has no such problems. It features two distinct tours that one may take. Each one has good information tables, so even an amateur who is willing to learn can really gain a lot from the experience, and even if the history of Roman civilization is familiar, it is traced in such a detail that the tours offer at least a good refreshment for memory. The first tour is chronological, the second thematic. We suggest taking them in this order, as intended.
Some highlights of the tours were the miniature models of early Rome (although some of the early material can be seen in the museum of the Palatinus Hill in much more detail), depictions of ancient siege techniques, maps of the resource economy of Rome, and examples of Roman food and cuisine. However, there are two things that alone would warrant a visit to the museum:
The first is an impressive hallway that presents the complete frieze of the Trajan's column in plaster imprints. This is a unique chance to learn about the history of Roman culture, conquests and colonization in all its effectiveness, political machinations and brutality. It also opens a window into the use of political propaganda in the Empire.
The second was for us even more impressive: a huge miniature model of the whole historical centre of Rome in Imperial times! (I guess it is a reconstruction of several eras and the sketchy knowledge available of them.) One could spend hours and hours finding individual buildings and comparing them to the modern maps (bring a good, a very good modern map with you and you will get much more out of this!). I recommend checking out the Testaccio hill, the ancient waste dump, as the model brings it really into perspective. There were some learning aids and comparative maps, but we didn't have time to utilise them.
There is no café in the museum, and it closes surprisingly early (2pm during the working week?), so either make advance plans or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it in the impressive parks of EUR.
The museum itself has no such problems. It features two distinct tours that one may take. Each one has good information tables, so even an amateur who is willing to learn can really gain a lot from the experience, and even if the history of Roman civilization is familiar, it is traced in such a detail that the tours offer at least a good refreshment for memory. The first tour is chronological, the second thematic. We suggest taking them in this order, as intended.
Some highlights of the tours were the miniature models of early Rome (although some of the early material can be seen in the museum of the Palatinus Hill in much more detail), depictions of ancient siege techniques, maps of the resource economy of Rome, and examples of Roman food and cuisine. However, there are two things that alone would warrant a visit to the museum:
The first is an impressive hallway that presents the complete frieze of the Trajan's column in plaster imprints. This is a unique chance to learn about the history of Roman culture, conquests and colonization in all its effectiveness, political machinations and brutality. It also opens a window into the use of political propaganda in the Empire.
The second was for us even more impressive: a huge miniature model of the whole historical centre of Rome in Imperial times! (I guess it is a reconstruction of several eras and the sketchy knowledge available of them.) One could spend hours and hours finding individual buildings and comparing them to the modern maps (bring a good, a very good modern map with you and you will get much more out of this!). I recommend checking out the Testaccio hill, the ancient waste dump, as the model brings it really into perspective. There were some learning aids and comparative maps, but we didn't have time to utilise them.
There is no café in the museum, and it closes surprisingly early (2pm during the working week?), so either make advance plans or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it in the impressive parks of EUR.
Written September 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter W
Alton, UK25 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We tried to visit this museum in 2000, but were prevented from doing so by a transport strike. We tried again last Sunday - it's a very long treck by metro and on foot. It must be Rome's best kept secret because there are no signs to it. By trial and error we eventually reached the handsome Colosseum-like building shown in the guide books, only to find that the correct building is at the other end of the boulevard - oh, and it's closed on Sundays.....ah well, we'll try again next time.
Written October 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sjhHove
Hove532 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This was one of my must see museums on my third visit to Rome - a model of the city at the time of Constantine, plaster casts of Trajan’s column which you can get up close to plus lots of other statues and sculptures. But it’s closed. According to the website it’s closed for cleaning but there was no sign of anything going on, and no notices indicating when it might re-open. It looks like it will be shut for a long time with bottles and piles of litter filling the entrance doors. There are thousands of tourists in Rome, most seeing the main sights at very reasonable rates, why can’t these be raised a little to cover the costs of museums such as this being able to open. And whilst I’m having a moan, more decent toilets in the Forum and even a cafe inside, like the one in Pompeii, which would bring in even more much needed cash. Really disappointed.
Written March 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allan J
Jutland, Denmark34 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
The history of the Roman Empire, from the early Republic to the late Empire, all shown with a mixture of archaeology and reconstructions of exquisite quality. Definitely worth a visit for those who are interested in history. There's a full size plaster cast of Traians Column in the museum, fully worth the visit on its own. Note: Not located close to the city center, so some travelling is required.
Written March 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tuxedocat907
Palmer, AK178 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
This was to be The Main Museum that we went to on this trip. It is quite a way out of the city -- metro to EUR Fermi station which is the next to the last stop on the line. We then walked 3 to 5 blocks and found the museum but we also discovered that it was closed for renovations. The guard that explained why it was closed was not able to give us an estimate as to how long the renovations would take. There is No Sign saying the museum is under renovations and there is NOTHING on their website indicating it is closed. Thankfully at the opposite end of the main boulevard was the Museum of the Middle Ages so our long metro ride was salvaged.
Written May 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland65,556 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
A visit to this large museum is well worthwhile. Many of the displays are models and reproductions, but this doesn’t take from the history of the pieces and the picture they give of ancient Rome. There are also original pieces.
The exhibitions are very well laid out, beginning with Roman origins and the historical figures. The famous she-wolf is impressively presented. There are many fine statues and sculptures in this Section. Ancient daily life gets comprehensive coverage with aspects such as schooling, writing, science & medicine being described.
One of the highlights is the plaster casts of all the reliefs on Trajan’s Column. They are situated on both sides in a long gallery and number around 125 in total. The detail is extraordinary. The vista along the length of the gallery is most impressive.
The exhibitions are very well laid out, beginning with Roman origins and the historical figures. The famous she-wolf is impressively presented. There are many fine statues and sculptures in this Section. Ancient daily life gets comprehensive coverage with aspects such as schooling, writing, science & medicine being described.
One of the highlights is the plaster casts of all the reliefs on Trajan’s Column. They are situated on both sides in a long gallery and number around 125 in total. The detail is extraordinary. The vista along the length of the gallery is most impressive.
Written March 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FolkestoneJack
London, UK564 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
We made a morning trip to the Museo della Civilta Romana which is easily combined with a wander around EUR to see sights such as the "Square Colosseum".
Tickets are available for the museum on its own or as a combined ticket with the planetarium (which we opted not to visit). The museum is split between two itineraries - a historical display and a thematic display. At the moment there is some work going on in a few rooms which are not open to the public. It was strangely quiet when we visited - we spotted just five other visitors.
The historical display takes you on a chronological progression through the rise and fall of the Roman empire. Each room provides an introduction to the reign of each emperor, illustrated with busts/statues and an interesting array of exhibits from each era (models and reconstructions of monuments from across the empire, including some from Tripoli and other far flung locations). We found it really helped us understand the different periods of construction for the sights that we had seen during our stay.
The thematic itinerary includes two highlights of the museum - the vast model of Constantine's Rome and the casts of Trajan's column.
The 125 plaster casts of the reliefs on Trajan's column tell the story of the two wars that Trajan fought to conquer Dacia (Romania). The casts are displayed in a sequence of four rows, with a description of each scene in English. It takes at least 30 minutes to get from one end to the other at a moderate pace, though you can easily spend much longer if you spend any time examining the casts in any detail. It is really worth following the story through to the end and taking up the pointers to some fascinating, sometimes grisly, details that would otherwise be easily missed.
Well worth a visit if you are staying in Rome for more than a few days.
Tickets are available for the museum on its own or as a combined ticket with the planetarium (which we opted not to visit). The museum is split between two itineraries - a historical display and a thematic display. At the moment there is some work going on in a few rooms which are not open to the public. It was strangely quiet when we visited - we spotted just five other visitors.
The historical display takes you on a chronological progression through the rise and fall of the Roman empire. Each room provides an introduction to the reign of each emperor, illustrated with busts/statues and an interesting array of exhibits from each era (models and reconstructions of monuments from across the empire, including some from Tripoli and other far flung locations). We found it really helped us understand the different periods of construction for the sights that we had seen during our stay.
The thematic itinerary includes two highlights of the museum - the vast model of Constantine's Rome and the casts of Trajan's column.
The 125 plaster casts of the reliefs on Trajan's column tell the story of the two wars that Trajan fought to conquer Dacia (Romania). The casts are displayed in a sequence of four rows, with a description of each scene in English. It takes at least 30 minutes to get from one end to the other at a moderate pace, though you can easily spend much longer if you spend any time examining the casts in any detail. It is really worth following the story through to the end and taking up the pointers to some fascinating, sometimes grisly, details that would otherwise be easily missed.
Well worth a visit if you are staying in Rome for more than a few days.
Written October 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CSS50
New York City, NY45 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
An excellent museum! Very educational and accessible - good for all ages. The museum layout is easy to follow and proved a great refresher course on Roman civilization and culture. The plaques explaining each room (in Italian and English only) gave just the right amount of info - a good summary of details, but not so much that it was overwhelming. The place is filled with fascinating detailed models, reproductions, and maps including a massive model of all of Rome. The museum was almost empty except for a small group going to the planetarium. School groups must visit regularly but we visited during the holidays. Website: http://en.museociviltaromana.it/
Written January 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly C
St. Petersburg110 contributions
If you're interested in tactical military history - or if your trip is limited in time or simply to Rome - the Museo della Civiliita Romana is worth a visit. Filled with models of the ancient city, its military devices, and casts of notable sculptures housed elsewhere in Italy [some from Naples, some from the nearby Capitoline Musei], the museum presents an interesting, eclectic side trip out of the city proper. It's not easy to get to, and the short hours further complicate things, but I'm considering a second trip this year.
[It's several blocks from the EUR metro stop, hours as of July 2010: Tuesday-Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm; Sunday 9.00am-1.30pm]
[It's several blocks from the EUR metro stop, hours as of July 2010: Tuesday-Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm; Sunday 9.00am-1.30pm]
Written July 4, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unfortunately if this reviewer says he visited in 2016, he is not truthful. It has been closed since early 2014. I received regular updates and as of May 2018 the museum has stated they do not have an opening date.
Written August 27, 2018
As of Sept 25, 2018, museum is still closed. No indication from people there when it will reopen. How can Rome be more helpful in letting people know that it is closed?
Written September 26, 2018
It is my understanding that this museum is closed indefinitely for renovation. I too am eagerly awaiting its reopening but per their website, it does not have a date to reopen at this time.
Written August 27, 2018
Hi Gail, the Museum is still closed and we don't know yet when it will re open. You can find updates on our website en.museociviltaromana.
Best regards
Web Area Musei in Comune
Written August 28, 2018
Gentile Alessandro,
il museo è attualmente chiuso. Per tutti gli aggiornamenti la invitiamo a consultare il sito ufficiale del museo. Nel portale dei Musei in Comune troverà inoltre informazioni dettagliate sulle collezioni permanenti dei Musei Civici e sulle mostre attualmente in corso.
Cordiali saluti
Written March 12, 2018
Hi, the Museo della Civiltà Romana is still closed and we don't know yet when it will re open. You can find updates on our website en.museociviltaromana.
Best regards
Web Area
Written February 12, 2018
Vorrei sapere se la struttura e' aperta in Agosto 2017?
Written August 17, 2017
Gentile Nadia,
il museo è attualmente chiuso. Per tutti gli aggiornamenti la invitiamo a consultare il sito ufficiale del museo.
Cordiali saluti
Written August 21, 2017
Will this museum be opened by fall 2018..
Written July 30, 2017
Hi, the Museo della Civiltà Romana is still closed and we don't know yet when it will re open. You can find updates on our website en.museociviltaromana.
Best regards
Written July 31, 2017
Would love to see this. When did you go and what was the admission?
Written July 30, 2017
Ya pregunté si estará abierto a fines de julio comienzo de agosto....si vale la pena visitarlo para tener una idea global de la Roma antigua.
Written June 20, 2017
Hola Gabriela,
el museo está cerrado temporalmente por trabajos de renovación.
Una alternativa puede ser una visita a los Museos Capitolinos, las colecciones se enlazan de manera fuerte con la ciudad de Roma, a la cual pertenecen la mayoría de las obras.
Para más información: museicapitoliniorg.
Cordialmente
Staff
Written June 20, 2017
Estoy visitando Roma a finales de Julionde este año 2017.... Va a estar abierto el museo? Vale la pena visitarlo para darse una idea total de lo que era la Roma con todos sus edificios?
Written June 20, 2017
Hola Gabriela,
el museo está cerrado temporalmente por trabajos de renovación.
Una alternativa puede ser una visita a los Museos Capitolinos, las colecciones se enlazan de manera fuerte con la ciudad de Roma, a la cual pertenecen la mayoría de las obras.
Para más información: museicapitoliniorg.
Cordialmente
Staff
Written June 20, 2017
Do you know yet when the museum might reopen? Thanks
Written June 7, 2016
Hi, the Museo della Civiltà Romana is still closed and we don't know yet when it will re open. You can find updates on our website en.museociviltaromana.
Best regards
Written June 8, 2016
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