Museo Nazionale Romano: Crypta Balbi

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  • Address
    Via delle Botteghe Oscure 31, Sant' Angelo
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  • Phone
    06 399 67 700
  • Transport
    bus: Largo di Torre Argentina
tram: Largo di Torre Argentina
  • Tue-Sun 09:00 - 19:45

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Lonely Planet review

This, the latest addition to the Museo Nazionale Romano's stable of museums, provides a fascinating illustration of the city's multilayered history. More than the exhibits, it's the building's structure that's the main point of interest.

It's built around the ruins of medieval and Renaissance structures, themselves set on top of a grand Roman portico and theatre, the 1st-century-BC Theatre of Balbus (19-13 BC). Many of the artefacts on display - including vividly coloured and decorated ceramics whose designs are still used today - come from excavations of the Crypta itself as well as the Forums, Oppian and Caelian Hills. Other exhibits, including most of those on the 2nd floor, belong to the Museo Nazionale Romano's vast collection.