10 Under-the-Radar Museums in Rome

Imagine possessing a collection of ancient statuary so vast that you run out of storage space. That’s the origin story behind this incredible—and virtually unknown—museum that houses 400 pieces of Roman and Greek sculptures against the steampunk backdrop of a decommissioned power plant in the Ostiense neighborhood, just south of Rome’s city center.

Juxtaposing classical beauty and industrial grit, the Centrale Montemartini is one of Rome’s most unusual exhibition spaces, displaying the overflow from the Capitoline Museums alongside the building's original turbines, a steam boiler, and diesel engines.

Don’t miss: The Machine Room, which houses both the most impressive blocks of machinery and some of the collection’s highlights, including a colossal head of Hercules unearthed on Capitoline Hill.

Quietly lining the better part of a city block just steps from the bustling Campo de’ Fiori market square, Palazzo Spada was a noble Renaissance residence that now holds one of the world’s premier collections of baroque paintings—though you’d never guess it from the nearly empty halls.

Marvel at works by artists such as Guido Reni and Artemisia Gentileschi hidden away in the four ornately decorated quadrerie, or picture rooms, and enjoy having this Roman museum all to yourself.

Don’t miss: The Secret Garden, where you can admire Borromini’s Colonnata, a forced perspective architectural masterpiece that still impresses almost 400 years after it was built.

In 1897, a fire tore through the Church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage (Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio), leaving charred marks on a wall that resembled a human face—at least to the priest at the time, Father Vittore Jouet.

He believed the image was a soul in purgatory attempting to communicate with the living and thus began his lifelong quest to assemble articles of clothing, books, and photographs that he believed were “singed" by the souls of the dead. Today, this pretty church along the Tiber River is home to his unique collection, displayed in a glass case in the sacristy.

Don’t miss: The neogothic facade of this tiny church, known as the Little Milan Cathedral because of its resemblance to the Milan Duomo.

Designed by some of the greatest architects of the Renaissance, the stunning Palazzo Barberini today houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica). Though not entirely off the map (the collection is one of Italy’s most prestigious), you’ll find a fraction of the Vatican Museums’ crowds here.

Take your time admiring works like La Fornarina by Raphael and Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes just around the corner from bustling Piazza Barberini in the heart of Rome.

Don’t miss: Borromini’s elegant helicoidal oval staircase, located on the opposite end of the front entrance as the ticket office for the museum. Spot the bees on each column’s capital, symbols of the Barberini family.

Despite its dark past as Mussolini’s private residence, Villa Torlonia in the Nomentana district is one of the most whimsical museums in Rome. The estate encompasses three buildings: the Casina delle Civette, the Casino dei Principi, and the Casino Nobile.

You can’t leave without strolling the manicured grounds and admiring the collection of neoclassical and art nouveau stained glass, furnishings, sculpture, and Italian art. Kids especially enjoy exploring the fairytale-like Casina delle Civette with its many nooks and crannies to discover.

Don’t miss: The surrounding park is full of leafy trees and quaint flower beds. You can visit the park for free but must purchase tickets to enter the buildings.

Lording over Via del Corso, Palazzo Doria Pamphilij is one of the few palaces in Rome that’s still privately owned by its original family. Most tourists rush past on their way to the nearby Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, not realizing that they’ve just overlooked one of the most rarified art collections in the world.

This gilded wonderland is home to the Galleria Doria Pamphilij, an immense collection of paintings, furniture, and statues that’s been amassed over five centuries by the Doria Pamphilij dynasty. Today, it’s displayed in four Renaissance wings around the palazzo’s inner courtyard.

Don’t miss: A portrait of Pope Innocent X by Velazquez, easily overlooked among countless works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, and Flemish old masters.

For a fascinating look at Italy’s culinary history, visit the Museum of Cooking. It opened in 2022, and word still hasn’t gotten out about this small gem.

Set on Palatine Hill at the exact spot where Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were said to be suckled by a she-wolf, the collection contains culinary tools, cookbooks, and other gadgets relating to cooking and cuisine dating from the Renaissance through the 19th century. This charming museum is a must for enthusiasts of la cucina italiana.

Don’t miss: The collection of rare antique cookbooks dating as far back as the 1400s, where you’ll find recipes for delicacies from roasted peacock to eel pie. Afterward, get hands-on cooking experience with a cooking class from a local.

Set a comfortable distance from the more tourist-trodden hubs, Rome’s MAXXI is located in the northern Flaminio neighborhood, offering plenty for lovers of contemporary art. But most visitors come to admire the building itself, a space-age, cement-and-glass creation by the late architect Zaha Hadid. Follow the massive internal ramps and walkways to visit the spaces dedicated to art and to architecture and take in the view from the signature jutting window.

Don’t miss: The excellent gelato shop (gelateria) set just behind the museum, Neve di Latte, which routinely ranks among Rome’s best gelato spots but rarely—if ever—has a line.

Located just behind the bustling Piazza Navona, the silent confines of Palazzo Altemps burst with ancient sculptures and reliefs that were once part of the collections amassed by the aristocratic Altemps family. This grand palazzo is part of the National Roman Museum—along with Palazzo Massimo, the Baths of Diocletian, and the Balbi Crypt—and houses some of the museum’s best archaeological treasures. Despite its central location, the museum is never crowded, making it an ideal escape from the throngs of tourists in Rome’s historic center.

Don’t miss: The palazzo’s Renaissance-era portico, frescoed in intricate, grotesque motifs dating back to the 16th century.

The bohemian district of Trastevere is known for its nightlife, but it’s also home to one of Rome’s little-known Renaissance gems: Villa Farnesina. This palace was built in the 16th century for a banker who commissioned the lavish frescoes that cover its interiors—some of which have been attributed to Raphael. Book a guided tour to discover Villa Farnesina’s architectural and artistic splendor, tucked away by the lush grounds that serve as a buffer between the villa and the bustling cobbstoned streets to the south.

Don’t miss: The Loggia of Cupid and Psyche and the Loggia of Galatea, both attributed to Raphael.