A complete guide to must-visit places in Rome to see gorgeous statues and sculptures, from the Centrale Montemartini to mythological statues in Villa Sciarra!
Rome is often described as an open-air museum, and I couldn’t help but notice in all my years living there that beyond street art, you can find classical statues and sculptures in every corner of the city.
Not only in the famous Roman museums, like the Capitoline Museums, but also in some of the city’s pretty parks and villas, like Villa Sciarra, or the even better-known Villa Borghese.
The Best Places in Rome To Admire Statues and Sculptures
Some of my favorite hidden gems in Rome are the secret museums that you wouldn’t expect of finding where visiting the city for the first time.
The Museum of Classical Art, for instance, hidden inside La Sapienza university, or places like the Museo dell’Altro e dell’Altrove if you’re more into crazy street art places than classical sculptures.
Whether you visit Rome in the spring, summer, fall or winter, just know that most places in this guide are great to check out no matter what the weather is.
And if you’d like to discover something different, very local, do check out the guide I’ve written about the best free things to do in Rome, as well!
Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Museum Of Classical Art, La Sapienza University
Housed within the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy at La Sapienza University, close to the Cimitero del Verano, the Museum Of Classical Art aims at the preservation and study of Greek and Roman sculptures.
It is completely free to enter, and nestled in the faculty are other free museums to check out – this one, though, is filled with a huge collection of plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman pieces.
I first discovered this museum in SKAM Italia, a show based in Rome, along with other secret places in the city – how funny it is, really, to find rows upon rows of Apollo or Aphrodite statues!
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Museo Venanzo Crocetti
The Museo Venanzo Crocetti displays the works of the 20th century Italian sculptor Venanzo Crocetti, and while it’s pretty far from the city center, a visit to the museum can make for an interesting half day.
Most of the sculptures depict human beings and animals, mostly horses, made of marble and bronze for the most part, and a glance at his preserved workshop, filled with drafts and unfinished statues, will blow your mind.
What’s interesting to note is that beyond the gorgeous collection of sculptures, there are also temporary exhibitions going on regularly at the Museo Venanzo Crocetti – don’t miss out on a moment in the secret garden at the back of the museum when visiting.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Cimitero Acattolico, Piramide
Known as the Non-Catholic Cemetery, the Cimitero Acattolico near the Pyramid of Cestius, in the Testaccio neighborhood, is another one of my favorite places to visit for a quiet atmosphere.
Established in the 18th century, the Cimitero Acattolico was created for non-Catholic foreigners who died in Rome, and with its tiny winding paths, a lovely garden at one end and countless tombstones adorned with statues, it is one of the prettiest places in Rome.
It is also the final resting place of notable figures, such as English poets John Keats (another statue of which can be found at Guy’s Hospital near London Bridge station, London) and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Villa Borghese Sculptures
Villa Borghese is undeniably one of the most magical parks in Rome; one of the biggest, too, in which are scattered multitudes of sculptures of busts, with a corner filled with statues of authors such as Gogol.
From statues of Goethe and Victor Hugo to even a replica of London’s Shakespeare‘s Globe Theatre, Villa Borghese is one of the places you really have to visit when in Rome.
You will find that, in addition to all these beautiful statues, there are plenty of hidden gems in Villa Borghese, which include our next spot, the Museo Pietro Canonica.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Museo Pietro Canonica, Villa Borghese
There are a few museums inside Villa Borghese, which are free for the most part, but that’s not the case with the Museo Pietro Canonica, housed in a lovely castle-like building.
The museum is dedicated to the works of 19th century Italian sculptor and composer Pietro Canonica, from scenes to busts of royalty and other notable personalities.
The Abyss, one of Canonica’s most renowned works, depicts a couple with piercing eyes, and is probably one of my favorite sculptures in Rome – you can spend long minutes admiring the finesse and strength of this particular sculpture.
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen
Located close to the Vatican and the Tiber River, the Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen is one of the very first places you should visit if you’re looking for rows upon rows of sculptures.
The collection, housed in Andersen’s former studio and home, echoes the poshness of the Flaminio neighborhood to perfection, and the villa itself, called Villa Hélène, is a beautiful place to take pictures if you’re into neoclassical architecture.
While there are plenty of small sculptures, most of the statues at the Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum are huge, a crisp white, with classical influences and simply gorgeous curves.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Stadio dei Marmi
If the views at the Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum are some you find yourself loving when visiting museums, then the Stadio dei Marmi should be your next destination.
The sports stadium is actually one of the secret places in Rome that always reminds me that the city is indeed an open-air museum, as you have 60 marble statues surrounding the track and field spot which all represent a different sport.
The Stadio dei Marmi is located inside the Foro Italico sports complex, and while other statues can be found in stadiums around the complex, this one is the only one freely accessible outside of sports events.
Interesting to note, the Stadio dei Marmi is a striking example of the Italian Fascist mindset, since it was constructed in the 1930s and designed as a place that would blend the beauty of ancient Rome and the new Italy.
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Casino Nobile, Villa Torlonia
One of the many hidden gems in Villa Torlonia, the only place in Rome where you’ll find a fairytale house aside from the Quartiere Coppedè, the Casino Nobile is a historic villa turned into a museum.
Located on Via Nomentana, one of the longest roads in Rome, the Casino Nobile used to be part of the Torlonia family’s residence, and later the home to none other than Benito Mussolini.
It is not a free museum, but you can access the Casino Nobile for just a little over 10 euros with a ticket that also includes the Casino dei Principi and the unforgettable Casina delle Civette.
Inside the Casino Nobile, you will be able to find period rooms, aesthetic columns, painted ceilings and frescoes, marble statues and even be able to enjoy the prettiest views over Villa Torlonia.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Villa Sciarra
Located on the Janiculum Hill, in the Trastevere neighborhood, Villa Sciarra is one of the most beautiful parks in Rome, and much more secret than, say, Villa Borghese we saw earlier.
This is also the only park in which are scattered sculptures and statues depicting mythological scenes, and Villa Sciarra also houses some of the prettiest fountains in Rome.
Whether you’re visiting during the fall or spending a few weeks here in the spring, Villa Sciarra, with its views of the Vittoriano, pergolas, fountains and hedges hiding even more statues, is definitely a must-visit.
Close by, you also have Villa Pamphili, even bigger, with more views, but less statues – still amazing if you’re looking for places to have a picnic while in town, or would just like to enjoy ruins, ornate fountains, and even a tiny grotto!
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, EUR
Also known as the Square Colosseum (Colosseo Quadrato), the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is located in the EUR neighborhood, where you can also find the Laghetto dell’EUR and its cute little Japanese pathway.
An iconic example of Fascist-era architecture, like the Stadio dei Marmi in the Foro Italico, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is now home to the Fendi headquarters, surrounded by offices and residential spaces.
On the façade is engraved a quote from Benito Mussolini:
Un popolo di poeti di artisti di eroi di santi di pensatori di scienziati di navigatori di trasmigratori
Which translates as A nation of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of navigators, of transmigrants, and at the bottom of the Colosseo Quadrato are to be found 28 statues which represent Italian culture in all its aspects, from industry to mythology – very much a reminder of Italy’s Fascist past.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture
Beyond sculptures from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greek and Roman statues, the Giovanni Barracco Museum is also of interest because of its secret crypt.
In many Roman churches, museums and other lesser-known spots, you can enter secret basements still painted and sculpted, and since this one is located really close to Piazza Navona, it is really easy to access.
What have I not mentioned yet?
Ah, that the Giovanni Barracco Museum is a completely free museum, part of the Roman museum network, and located in a gorgeous 16th century palace with a view on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the most famous streets in Rome.
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Centrale Montemartini, Garbatella
Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Garbatella, which is a must-visit if only to check out the street art pieces and village-like streets, the Centrale Montemartini might not be free to enter, but it is a breathtaking place to include on your bucket list.
Set inside a former power plant, built in 1912 as the first public electricity plant in Rome, the Centrale Montemartini became a permanent museum in 1997 to display some of the Capitoline Museums’ collections.
Visit for the juxtaposition of incredible classical sculptures and old boilers, turbines and engines, stay some more to enjoy intricate mosaic floors, and don’t forget to use this old-new vibe as a photo spot!
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Most Beautiful Places in Rome: Palazzo Altemps
Out of the many beautiful palaces in Rome, I feel like Palazzo Altemps, located close to the Giovanni Barracco Museum, is one of the most interesting to visit, especially if you’re the kind of person who enjoys views of both sculptures and painted ceilings.
A gem of Renaissance architecture, Palazzo Altemps is not free to enter, but with its successive rooms sharing exquisite sculptures of the era that include ancient Greek and Roman art, it is very much worth the ticket price.
Plus, we have here one of the prettiest photo spots in town, and since we’re close to L’Insalata Ricca, I would definitely recommend trying out this spot if you’re ever looking for cheap eats in Rome.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Canova Tadolini Coffee Shop
Located close to Via del Corso, one of the best shopping spots in Rome, Canova Tadolini is nothing but one of the most instagrammable cafes in town, and doubles as a museum.
Having breakfast in this cafe will set you back about 10/15 euros, as it to be expected in famous streets like Via del Corso and Via del Babuino, since we’re close to Piazza di Spagna.
The cafe is established in the former workshop of 19th century sculptor Antonio Canova and his student Adamo Tadolini – all the tiny and very huge sculptures make for a mindblowing setting if you’re looking for a different kind of breakfast moment in Rome.
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Where to Find Sculptures in Rome: Palazzo Mattei
When visiting Rome’s Jewish Ghetto, you wouldn’t expect to find a place like the Palazzo Mattei, and since it’s completely free to access, you can easily understand why I was so mindblown the first time I ever visited.
Palazzo Mattei is located close to the iconic Fontana delle Tartarughe and the Largo di Torre Argentina, and is a 17th century building constructed for the Mattei family, at that time one of Rome’s most influential families.
Inside Palazzo Mattei, you will find the Biblioteca di Storia Moderna e Contemporanea, but beyond this gorgeous library are also to be found many Roman busts and statues assimilated into the building’s design.
If the odds are in your favor, when ringing the bell upstairs, you might even be let into a small balcony to admire the statues, busts and frescoes up close – what an incredible moment, and so unexpected!
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The Best Places in Rome To Admire Statues and Sculptures
There you have them, all the most beautiful places to visit in Rome to admire sculptures and statues – and since most of these spots are free, they are definite must-haves on your bucket list!
My favorite seasons to spend time in Roman gardens are around spring and fall; when it gets really cold, it’s the moment when I would rather either go proper shopping in Rome, or visit some amazing museums.
Until next time!
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