The Montemartini Thermoelectric Centre was the first public power plant built in Rome in 1912. It was provided with groups of diesel motors and a turbo steam alternator by the Tosi firm. At the beginning it would produce 7000 kW of power, later increased to 16,000 adding steam turbines.

In 1997 hundreds of ancient Roman art pieces were moved here from the Capitoline Museums and they are now displayed among the engines. Best-known pieces are:  the “Victory of the Simmaci”, rare V century B.C. Greek statues from the pediment of the temple of Apollo Sosiano, III century B.C. frescoes from the tomb of the Fabii, a bronze furarary bed form Amiternum, Barberini toga-wearing statue, the Muse Polymnia, Agrippina the Younger, a portrait of Cleopatra, the Mosaic with hunting scene.

Duration 3 hours

Entrance ticket: 5.50 euro; 4.50 euro for EU students; free for Eu citizens under 6 and over 65. Combined ticket Centrale Montemartini+Capitoline Museums 10.50 euro (see CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS)

Closed on Mondays.

A good website to get an idea:

http://en.centralemontemartini.org/

Best known pieces include: the terra cotta Sarcophagus of the Spouses, the Etruscan-Phoenician Pyrgi Tablets, the Apollo of Veii, the Cista Ficoroni, the Euphronios Crater, the Chigi Olpe.  A large amount of Greek vases of the highest quality are also on display.

Duration: 3 hours

Entrance ticket: 8 euro; 2 euro for EU students under 25; free under 18.

Closed on Mondays.

The new rooms in Villa Poniatowski are closed.

Villa Giulia is open in the evening every Saturday until October 1st (and on July 1st and September 23rd)!  Ticket office closes at 9:30 pm, museum closes at 10:15pm. Sometimes  Villa Poniatowski will also be open (reservation needed for this section).

For more photos see (only in Italian): http://www.villagiulia.beniculturali.it/index.php?it/1/home

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

On ground level and first floor it houses a prestigious collection of important statues  such as the Discobolus Lancellotti (Discus Thrower), the Augustus via Labicana, the bronze Boxer, the General from Tivoli, the Dying Niobide (V BC), the Girl of Anzio, bronze ornaments from the Nemi ships.

On second floor a variety of extraordinary frescoes representing the height of Roman painting, among which the painted garden of the Villa of Livia from Prima Porta  (see VILLA DI LIVIA) and the reconstructed cubicola of Villa Farnesina, as well as extensive polychromatic mosaics of the highest quality.

In the basement the recenlty-found and unique imperial insignia of emperor Maxentius (sometimes away for exhibitions), the Grottarossa mummy and the largest numismatic collection in the world.

Duration: 3 hours

Entrance ticket: 10 euro; 2 for EU students under 25; free under 18.

Closed on Mondays.

A 3-days ticket is available for 15 euro and it includes one admission to each of the four sections of the Roman National Archaeological Museum: Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, Terme di Diocleziano.