Duration: 2 hours
Capitoline Museums at the Centrale Montemartini on Via Ostiense
In1997, the decision was made to transfer part of the collection in the Capitoline Museums to the former Montemartini thermoelectric plant. It provided an ideal setting for exhibiting works of art which, due to lack of space, had not been on display to the public for a considerable time. The Centrale Montemartini is indeed a unique venture in the context of Roman museums, and succeeds in combining classical archaeology with a fine example of industrial conservation.
It is extremely interesting to see the workings of Rome’s first public generating station, with fine examples of classical marble statuary beautifully reflected in the copper surfaces.
There are portraits of emperors, decorative façades from Roman temples, gorgeous mosaics and the timeless faces of great public figures such as Cleopatra and Antinous, a favourite of the Emperor Hadrian. In short, we are given the chance to see the hidden treasures of the Capitoline archives which have at last been found a fitting home.