We start from the most renowned Piazza di Spagna.

A few steps away is a collection of ancient Roman marble pieces still displayed in the secret private courtyard of Palazzo Gomez.

Shopping streets will take us to the Column of Marcus Aurelius, in the middle of piazza Colonna, the political heart of Italy.

In front of the House of Deputies is an obelisk, which used to be in the center of an impressive sundial, the Horologium Augusti.

The Temple of Hadrian is now the façade of  modern Palazzo della Borsa.

Going by Baroque piazza Sant’Ignazio we reach via del Pie’ di Marmo, where only a  big marble foot remains of a gigantic statue of Isis.

And we get to His Majesty the Pantheon, that marveled visitors through the centuries.

Here we may try the best coffee in town, before we walk by ancient columns and fountains to reach Pasquino, an ancient Roman statue that will tell us the latest news.

Continue on to piazza Navona, still shaped as the stadium for track and field it used to be. Here we can go under modern buildings to discover the ancient ruins of the Stadium of Domitian.

Duration: 3 hours; 3.5 hours if we visit the Stadium of Domitian inside.

Great late afternoon.

Entrance tickets to Pantheon: 5 euro; 2 euro age 18-25; free under 18. Buy tickets here.

Entrance tickets to Stadium of Domitian: 9 euro; 7 euro age 12-17; 5 euro age 8-11; free under 8; special deal for small groups with qualified guide.

The collection includes Ancient and Renaissance Art and it is housed in three Renaissance palaces.

We start with a look at Piazza del Campidoglio by Michelangelo, probably the most beautiful in Rome, and the world.

We enter Palazzo dei Conservatori and in the courtyard we see the remains of a marble Colossus of Constantine.

On first level some of the rooms are still as they were when designed by Michelangelo in 1530’s. Here we see high-relief panels from monuments to Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Hadrian, frescoes by Cavalier d’Arpino, a renowned bronze portrait called  Capitoline Brutus, the Boy with Thorn (Spinario), the world famous bronze Capitoline Shewolf with the Twins, and a number of other great pieces. A brand new exedra by architect Aymonino houses the giant bronze statue of emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Colossal Head of Constantine, with hand and globe, gilded bronze Hercules from Boarius Forum, Esquiline Venus, Commodus as Hercules, the foundations of the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter, and a lot more.

On second level we have a quick look at the Picture Gallery just to see the Fortune Teller and John the Baptist both by Caravaggio (not always there as they travel much for exhibitions).

Down the stairs we reach an underground gallery that goes across the square connecting the three palaces. It houses part of the epigraphic collection and gives access to the Tabularium, a building dating back to I century BC with a great view over the Roman Forum.

Through the gallery we enter Palazzo Nuovo. Here we see the Capitoline Venus, the mosaic of the doves, the Hall of the Emperors, the Hall of the Philosophers, the Red Faun, and the most celebrated  Dying Gaul.

Duration: 3 hours

Entrance ticket: 15 euro; 13 euro for EU citizens between 6 and 25 and over 65; free for EU citizens under 6.

Now open 7/7 9:30-19:30

A virtual tour is available here, just follow the arrows: http://tourvirtuale.museicapitolini.org/#en