9 free museums in Rome for art, history, and Roman ruins

Rome is one of those cities where it feels like there is a historical building or an archaeological dig around every corner. There are plenty of museums and galleries worth visiting to get a more in-depth look at Roman history and culture, but if you are on a budget or just rather spend your euros on more pasta instead, we’ve put together this list of always-free museums in Rome that travelers love best.

The Museo Napoleonico is the perfect spot if you are interested in the private life of Napoleon and how the imperial Bonaparte family spent their time in Rome after the fall of the Empire. The extensive personal collection of 19th-century art, family souvenirs, and other fine relics is housed on the ground floor of the Palazzo Primoli, owned by one of the Bonaparte descendants.

Giovanni Barracco was a rich 19th-century Italian nobleman who amassed a collection of sculptures from the ancient civilizations of Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Assyrian, Cypriot Roman, and medieval artworks. He donated this sculpture collection to the City of Rome in 1902. You can view these amazing pieces at the Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco which is housed in an elegant 16th-century palace known just off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.

Right in the center of the greenery at the Villa Borghese is a gallery dedicated to the works of Pietro Canonica, a 19th-century sculptor beloved by European aristocrats and creator of a number of famous sculptures around the world. Beyond the exhibition rooms, the Museo Pietro Canonica offers a more intimate look at the workshop and private quarters of Canonica, as well as his personal collection of paintings.

The Museo Storico della Liberazione tells the story of the Nazi occupation of Rome during World War II. Set in a nondescript building that was once used as a prison during this period, it is a sobering memorial to the Italian resistance fighters and alongside the exhibition panels, you can also walk through the original cells where prisoners were held.

Another free museum in the Villa Borghese is the Museo Carlo Bilotti, named for a wealthy Italian entrepreneur who was both an avid collector and patron of many artists—this collection of modern art includes many private commissions from household names including de Chirico, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. The museum is set in the restored Aranciera (Orangery) of the Villa Borghese, a building that has seen many transformations in its time.

Located near the Via Veneto, the Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi is also known as the Museum for Decorative Arts, Costume, and Fashion of the 19th and 20th centuries. It has about 800 pieces of clothing and fashion accessories from Italian fashion history alongside paintings, photographs, and other architectural ornamentation. The house was the former residence of Princess Blanceflor de Bildt Boncompagni who donated it to promote arts and culture in Italy.

Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen is set in Villa Helene, the former home and creative studio of this Norwegian sculptor who came to Rome in 1893 and spent a good part of his life in the city. Set in a pretty pink palazzo, the museum showcases both his collection of neo-classical sculptures as well as his own paintings and bronze sculptures. It also hosts temporary exhibitions by other foreign artists with links to Italy.

En route to the ancient Roman road of the Via Appia Antica is the Museo delle Mura, a small museum located in the San Sebastiano Gate of the Aurelian Walls. It’s not the most convenient to get outside the city center, but the museum offers historical displays of old Roman defense systems as well as some lovely views of Rome from the top of the wall.

Located along Miles 1 and 2 of the Via Appia Antia is the Villa di Massenzio, an archeological site that dates back to the time of Emperor Maxentius in the 4th century, mostly known for losing his battle with Constantine the Great in the Battle of Ponte Milvio. You can take a walk around the compound which consists of three buildings: a palace, circus, and dynastic mausoleum, as well as a chariot racetrack.

On the first Sunday of the month, all Italian state museums and archaeological sites offer free entry throughout Italy under the Domenica al Museo program. Note that free entry is usually for the permanent exhibitions and you may still have to purchase a ticket to see special exhibitions.

Some notable museums and sites that offer free entry:

Check out the website of the museum you intend to visit beforehand to be sure.

In Vatican City, the ever-popular Vatican Museums offer free entry on the last Sunday of the month. Be prepared to brave the crowds, though. It tends to get very crowded as everyone wants to take a look at the famous Sistine Chapel and other treasures in the Vatican.

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