a few body parts from the Musei Capitolini

One of the highlights of my trip this summer was my visit to the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums). The Musei Capitolini are said to be the oldest public museums in the world. The history of these museums can be traced back to 1471. The Musei Capitolini are located on the famous Campidoglio or Monte Capitolino (Capitoline Hill). The collections of art, statues, archeological remains, and other items are housed in three main buildings which surround the Piazza del Campidoglio and are interlinked by an underground gallary beneath the piazza.

The ticket cost 8 euros. I believe the cost for the audioguide, which I would highly recommend, was about 5 euros. When you rent the audioguide, you need to leave an ID. My copy of my passport worked.

The entrance into the museums is through the Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori. I'm not sure how, but I did not know about these museums until this spring, while reading up on Rome. I saw a few pictures of parts of a statue in this courtyard, the Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori, and I immediately put a visit to the Musei Capitolini as a must on my list of things to do while in Rome. The museums were even more amazing than I imagined.

Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori
Colossal statue of Constantine: right hand
313-324 AC


Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori
Colossal statue of Constantine: head
313-324 AC


Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori
various body parts of Constantine: I am guessing part of an arm, head, again guessing kneecap, and right hand
313-324 AC


Courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori
again guessing, Constantine's feet?




Inside the Palazzo dei Conservatori, in the Grand Glass Hall, you will find the remains of the bronze colossus of Constantine along with a few famous pieces.

Colossal bronze statue of Constantine: head, left hand and globe
4th century AC


Here is a back view of the hand and head of Constantine


The third of the three buildings of the Musie Capitolini is called the Capitoline Museum. I am not positive on just where I took these next three pictures, but I believe it was in the Gallery. I also do not know whose body parts these are.

left foot


right foot


and here's someone's leg


If you are interested in more information on these museums, here is the official Musei Capitolini website in English and for a general overview, the Wikipedia link.