Top 100 best museums in Italy

The Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica), Tunnel Borbonico or Bourbon Gallery is an ancient underground passage that was constructed to connect the Royal Palace to military barracks in Naples. Presently the tunnels are open for tours, and contains decades of debris, including vintage cars and a disca

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence holds a huge collection of valuable works mostly from the Italian Renaissance. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 for Cosimo I de' Medici, the second Duke of Florence, to house administrative offices and the state archive. Over the time, the Medici fam

Castel Sant'Elmo is a medieval fortress that sits atop Vomero Hill, adjacent to the Certosa di San Martino, and offers a panoramic view of Naples, Italy. Its strategic location makes it a significant landmark in the city. The castle's name, 'Sant'Elmo', is derived from a 10th-century church dedicated to Sant'Erasmo, which was later shortened to 'Ermo' and then altered to 'Elmo'.

The 17th century Villa Borghese Pinciana, built for Cardinal Scipione Borghese as his suburban manor, is located in the Borghese gardens. It houses the Borghese Gallery with a spectacular collection of renaissance and baroque paintings and sculptures by the most famous artists. You can admire the pa

Ostia, located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in ancient Latium, Italy, was an important port city for ancient Rome and is believed to be one of its first colonies. This historical significance makes it a fascinating destination for those interested in the history of the Roman Empire.

Originally built in the second century AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum, in the 14th century, it was decided that the building should be turned into a castle and a special corridor was added in order to connect the castle with St. Peter’s Basilica. Today, the castle serves as a museu

The National Museum of Cinema (Museo Nazionale del Cinema) is an Italian motion picture museum, that is housed in the Mole Antonelliana tower in Turin. The collections includes pre-cinematographic optical devices (magic lanterns), earlier and current film technologies, stage items from old Italian m

The Egyptian Museum of Turin (Museo Egizio) is an archaeological museum in Turin that is dedicated to Egyptian archaeology and anthropology. The museum houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities, with over 30,000 artefacts. Highlight in the collection of the Egyptian Museum of Tur

Palazzo Madama, located in Rome, is the building where the Senate of the Italian Republic is housed. This historic building is situated within the complex of streets known as the Trident. The history of the current Senate building began in the late 15th century, during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV, when Rome was transitioning from a medieval city to a modern one.

Santa Maria delle Grazie, located in Milan, northern Italy, is a church and Dominican convent that holds the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic site is renowned for its architectural beauty and cultural significance, making it a notable destination for tourists visiting Italy.

The National Automobile Museum (Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile) is an automobile museum in Turin that holds a collection of almost 200 cars, representing 80 automobile brands from 8 countries. The museum is situated in a building from 1960 that has three floors. The collection of The National Autom

The Accademia Gallery in Florence was founded in 1784 and holds Michelangelo's masterpiece - the statue of David. Apart from this famous sculpture, it holds other artworks by Michelangelo and a collection of Renaissance paintings. The marble statue of the Biblical hero David was created between 1501

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli) is an hisotry museum in Naples mostly known for its ancient Roman remains. The collection the museum holds however, includes artifacts from Greek, Roman and Renaissance times, and especially Roman artifacts from ne

More than five centuries old, the Musei Capitolini, the Capitoline Museums (which is a single museum) was the oldest public museum in the world, composed of three main buildings (the Palazzo Senatorio, the Palazzo dei Conservatori, and the Palazzo Nuovo) surrounding the Piazza del Campidoglio and li

Museo Nazionale del Bargello is a museum in Florence that is housed in a 13th-century palace which is the oldest public building in Florence. It opened as a national museum in 1865 after it was used as barracks, a prison, and finally the residence of the Bargello, the head of the police. The art gal

Located just behind the cathedral, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo was founded in 1891 to hold the works of art that were originally decorating the Baptistry of San Giovanni, the Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower. There are over 750 medieval and Renaissance statues and reliefs situated over three floors

Villa Necchi Campiglio is a villa in Milan that was built in the 1930s, where visitors can discover the way of living for the upper class in the 20th century. Tours in several languages are held in the Villa Necchi Campiglio. Check the specific times on the official website.

Pinacoteca di Brera is a gallery where visitors can admire one of the greatest collections of Italian paintings in the world. The artworks exhibited here range from renaissance to modern art and includes works of masters such as Raphael, Caravaggio or the Bellini brothers. Most of the art here is of

Museo Nazionale Romano - Palazzo Massimo is the National Museum in Rome, housed in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme. Erected between 1883 and 1887 in a neo-cinquecentesco style, it was a prestigious school until 1960. The ground floor features the notable bronze statues of the Boxer at Rest and the At

Certosa e Museo di San Martino Napoli (Charterhouse of St. Martin) is a museum in Naples and is a former monastery complex on top of the Vomero hill. The museum houses collections of Spanish and Bourbon era artifacts, as well as displays of the presepe (Nativity scene) that is considered to be one o

The Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a museum in Rome, housed in the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, the palace of the Doria family (who still lives there), which could very well be the largest in Rome still in private ownership. The museum mainly exhibits paintings. However the collection contains paintings, fur

The Aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova) is the largest aquarium in Italy. The 3,100 sqm aquarium that includes 70 tanks containing a total of 6,000,000 liters is located in the old harbor area of Genoa. The tanks reproduce the habitat of numerous fish and reptiles. Highlights in the aquarium are

The Domus Aurea, literally translated as the 'House of Gold', was a grand palace constructed by Emperor Nero on the Oppian Hill in the heart of ancient Rome. This construction was initiated after the great fire of 64 AD. The palace was a symbol of opulence and extravagance, with its luxurious inlays of gold, precious stones, and ivory.

Museo nazionale di Capodimonte (The National Museum of Capodimonte) houses galleries of ancient art, one of contemporary art and a historic apartment. The collection mainly consists of paintings, from two main collections, namely the Farnese collection, which includes Italian as well as internationa

Museo Galileo is a museum in Florence where visitors can learn about the history of science. Housed in Palazzo Castellani, the museum boasts a great collection of scientific instruments from the Medici Collection dating back to the 15th century. The permanent exhibition is devoted to Galileo, even G

The Galata Museum (Galata - Museo del Mare) is the largest museum of its kind (that focuses on the Mediterranean) and is located at the Porto Antico in Genoa in the Palazzo Galata. In addition to the replica of a full-size Genoese galley, the museum features interactive exhibition spaces that illust

In the underground of Naples lies a labyrinth of tunnels, tanks and cavities that form a real city which is the negative of the city on surface. The underground city spreads below the entire old town, its myths and legends are still alive in the imagination of all the neapolitans.. Come with us int

Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro (Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro) holds and displays the Treasure of San Gennaro, which is composed of art works and donations collected in 7 centuries of Popes, Kings, Emperors, famous and ordinary people. It mainly consists of jewelry, statues, busts, fabrics

Museo di San Marco is an art museum in Florence that is housed in a medieval Dominican convent designed in the 15th century by a notable Italian architect Michelozzo, one of the pioneers of Renaissance architecture in Florence. The extensive collection of artworks contains paintings and frescoes by

The Museo del Novecento is a musuem in Milan that focuses on artworks by 20th century Italian and foreign artists. Its collection includes about 400 works, mostly paintings, photographs and sculptures that were made from 1902 till the 1970s. Major highlights include works by Braque, Picasso, Matisse

The Duomo Museum in Milan (Museum of the Duomo of Milan) is a museum that originates from the cathedral, from which all the works on display have been taken. The museum is housed inside the Royal Palace. A tour through the museum also includes the Church of San Gottardo in Corte. The tour through th

The Vasari Corridor in Florence is an enclosed passageway that was built in 1565 by Cosimo I de' Medici. Linking the Palazzo Pitti and the Palazzo Vecchio, this corridor is decorated with paintings by Raphael, Bernini, Rubens, and Rembrandt. There are windows in the middle of Ponte Vecchio that off

The Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci is a science and technology museum in Milan. It is named after Italian polymath of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci. With around 16,000 exhibits, it is the largest museum of its kind in Italy. The main building was once a monastery. The a

The Pantheon is an ancient temple in Rome, rebuilt in the 2nd century AD. It is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world, thanks to its transformation into a church in the 7th century and its continuous use and maintenance since then. This makes it a unique historical site that offers a glimpse into the architectural prowess of the ancient Romans.

The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius, also known as the Reale cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro, is a significant part of the Cathedral of Naples in Italy. This chapel is dedicated to St. Januarius, who is the patron saint of the city. It is the most lavishly decorated chapel in the cathedral, showcasing contributions from the premier Baroque artists in Naples.

The Sforza Castle is a 15th century Renaissance castle surrounded by massive walls and built by the Duke of Milan (Francesco Sforza) as his residence. Today, it houses many museums, including The Museum of Ancient Art, the Egyptian Museum, the Applied Arts Collection, the Museum of Musical Instrumen

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is an art museum in Milan that was named after Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan. The museum is located in the Palazzo dell Ambrosiana, where the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, a historic library in Milan, is housed. The collection of the museum is divided over 24 rooms and includ

MAO - Museo d'Arte Orientale (The Museum of Oriental Art in Turin) is a museum in Turin that is housed in a 17th-century palazzo. This oriental art museum holds one of the most important collections of Asian art in Italy, containing some 2200 works that represent cultural and artistic traditions fro

The Galleria Palatinain Florence is the main gallery of the Pitti Palace that contains more than 500 Renaissance paintings from the private art collection of the Medici family. It was first opened to the public by the House of Lorraine in 1828. The collection includes masterpieces by Raphael, Titian

The Palazzo Barberini is a Renaissance palace that is the joint work of three of the most admired architects of the era - Bernini, Borromini and Maderno. The interior boasts splendid works of art, too. You can find paintings by masters like Tizian or Caravaggio here, as well as the famous "La Fornar

Galleria Colonna is a museum in Rome that is housed in the Palazzo Colonna that was built in the 15th century by Pope Martinus V member of the noble Colonna family. The Galleria Colonna holds and exhibits a collection of art that includes works by Titian, Guercino, Reni, Bronzino (Venus, Cupid), Jac

Established in 1883, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna is all about modern art. It hosts more than 5,000 artworks, both paintings and sculptures, that date from the 18th century all the way to the 1960s. Among its collection are the works of world-renowned artists like Cezanne, Van Gogh, or Mone

The Stibbert Museum in Florence holds and exhibits a collection of over 36,000 artifacts, including a large collection of armour from Eastern and Western civilizations. The museum is housed in a villa that was once the home of English art collector and businessma Frederick Stibbert. It has 57 rooms

Milan is the beating heart of the design world and La Triennale di Milano is the place to go to if you are interested in contemporary art and design. This design and art museum hosts frequently changing special exhibitions and events focusing on these, or related topics, such as urban planning or me

The roots of the existence of the Palazzo Reale in Milan go back to the Middle Ages when it served as a seat of the government of Milan. It gained major importance during the era of Napoleon when Milan was the capital city of the Kingdom of Italy and the palace was a seat of the viceroy. During Worl

The City Museum of Ancient Art (Museo civico d'arte antica) is a museum in Turin that is housed in the Palazzo Madama palace. The museum is mostly known for its collection of paintings from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The museum consists of a total of 35 rooms on four floors. The

The Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943 (Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943) is a museum in Catania that is dedicated to the Allied landing on the southern coast of Sicily on July 10, 1943. The invasion of Sicily is considered the beginning of the liberation of Italy from fascism

The Gallerie di Piazza Scala or Gallerie d'Italia - Piazza Scala is a modern and contemporary art museum in Milan that was founded in 2011 and holds and exhibits around 195 works of art from Antonio Canova to Umberto Boccioni and Salvatore Garau. The collection has a strong representation of 19th ce

The Doge's Palace in Genoa (Palazzo Ducale) was once the home of the Doges of Genoa. Today it is a museum and a centre for cultural events and arts exhibitions. Shops and restaurants are located in the courtyards and colonnade. Because the palace originated from the merger of a number of medieval bu

The Baths of Diocletian (Thermae Diocletiani) was a large public thermal complex in ancient Rome. The Baths of Diocletian were located on the summit of the Viminal. The complex was built from 298, commissioned by Emperor Maximian and was inaugurated in 306. Since Maximian was in power the lesser of

Located on Via Ostiense in Rome, Centrale Montemartini is the newest exhibition space among the municipal museums of Rome. In front of an industrial-archaeological backdrop, it houses about 400 Roman statues as well as tomb inscriptions and mosaics. Set in the oldest power plant in Rome, the museum

The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is an important historic house museum nestled in downtown Milan. Nose around & see how aristocratic Milanese lived. The Renaissance art, decorative arts, furniture, scientific & musical instruments, sun dials, majolica, arms & armor and the rooms are preserved just as t

Located in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, the Brancacci Chapel is notable for its outstanding frescoes made by Masaccio and Masolino, great Italian Renaissance painters. The work on the chapel was finished by Filippino Lippi. Some of the highlights include The Temptation of Adam and Eve and

The Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia is the National Etruscan Museum in Rome, housed in the Villa Giulia that was built for pope Julius III. The first rooms of the museum feature artefacts organized according to a double principle: topographical and chronological. Furthermore, the museum incl

Built in the 14th century by the wealthy Davizzi family, the Palazzo Davanzati is layered with history. The palace houses the Museum of the Old Florentine House and is the best-preserved medieval home in Florence and was furnished with art and furniture from that period. After restoration in 2012, i

The Museum and Crypt of Capuchins is located in a crypt under the church Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. The museum presents bones of nearly 4000 Capuchin friars stored in the crypt. The bones are arranged into macabre decorations. The Capuchins have been using the church since 1631. So

The Juventus Museum and Tour is about reliving all the history and triumphs of Juventus, through technology, multimedia and memorabilia. In addition to the Museum visit, visitors can sample the most exclusive areas of Allianz Stadium by combining the museum visit with the Allianz stadium tour. Here

The Museo nazionale del Risorgimento italiano (National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento) is housed in the Palazzo Carignano in Turin. The museum is the first, the biggest and the most important among the Risorgimento museums in Italy. The museum holds a collection that includes weapons, flags, un

The Ara Pacis museum (or Museum of the Ara Pacis) is a museum in Rome that houses the Ara Pacis of Augustus, an ancient monument that was initially inaugurated on January 30, 9 B.C. The Ara Pacis Augustae is an altar dedicated to the Roman goddess of peace: Pax. It was commissioned by the Roman Sena

The Museo Poldi Pezzoli is a museum in Milan that was founded in the 19th century from the private collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and his mother, Rosa Trivulzio, from the Gian Giacomo Trivulzio family. The museum holds and exhibits works by artists including Sandro Botticelli, Antonio Poll

The Royal Armoury of Turin (Armeria Reale) is one of the world’s most important collections of arms and armour. The collection is formed by the Savoy family, a royal family that was established in 1003 in the historical Savoy region. Highlights in the collection the museum holds include: the sword o

The Palazzo Reale or Palazzo Stefano Balbi is the Royal Palace in Genoa and is one of the major historic buildings in Genoa. It is a museum complex consisting of the historic residence, the adjoining garden and the art gallery, the gallery of the Royal Palace, which is one of the main galleries in t

The Jewish Museum of Rome is situated in the basement of the Great Synagogue of Rome. The museum is dedicated to the history of the Jewish presence in Rome, which began in the second century BCE, but it also presents works of art produced by this Jewish community. A visit to the museum includes a gu

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna (Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna) is a history museum in Bologna that is housed in the 15th century Palazzo Galvani, once known as the Hospital of Death. The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna is one of the most important archeological museums with

The Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurables) or Complesso degli Incurabili is an ancient hospital complex in Naples. Part of the complex, including the pharmacy, are now the Museo delle arti sanitarie of Naples. The museum exhibits archival documents, furnishings, silverware, sculptur

The Museo per la Memoria di Ustica (Museum for the Memory of Ustica) is a museum in Bologna that is part of the Gallery of Modern Art in Bologna. The museum was established to commemorate the victims of the Ustica massacre. The museum houses the remains of the DC-9 reconstructed and exhibited in the

La Specola - Museum of Zoology and Natural History is a natural history museum in Florence. The name is a reference to the astronomical observatory founded here in 1790. The museum's collection is based on the Medici Natural History Collection and is best known for its collection of anatomical wax m

The Museum of the History of Bologna (Museo della Storia di Bologna) is a museum in Bologna that is housed in The Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio, a Medieval Gothic-style palace. In the museum visitors learn more about the history of Bologna. The interactive museum covers the period from the Etruscans to th

Museo Pietro Micca (The Pietro Micca Civic Museum and the Musuem of the siege of Turin in 1706) is a museum in Turin dedicated to Pietro Micca, a Sabaudian soldier who became a national hero for his sacrifice in the defence of Turin against the French troops. The museum is housed in a two-storey bui

The Palazzo Altemps is a palace in Rome that was designed in the 15th century by Melozzo da Forlì for Girolamo Riario. In 1997 it was inaugurated as a museum and became part of the National Roman Museum showing ancient works of art with sculptures from Renaissance collections such as the Boncompagni

The Ducati Museum is a museum in Bologna that is dedicated to the Ducati motorcycle brand. The museum is located at the Ducati factory and holds a collection of Ducati motorcycles and some early non-automotive products. The collection illustrates the history of Ducati motorcycles and is told in a pe

The National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa (Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa) is a railway museum in/near Naples that is housed in what was originally the old Bourbon workshop Officine di Pietrarsa where steam machines for ships and boilers for locomotives were built. The museum features 5 pav

The Gallerie di Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano (The Galleries of Palazzo Zevallos) is a museum in Naples housed inside Palazzo Zevallos. The collections of the museum include pieces from the Neapolitan seventeenth century up to to the twentieth century.

The VIGAMUS - The Video Game Museum of Rome is an interactive museum in the Italian capital Rome that is dedicated to the history of video games. It features a permanent exhibition that is divided into different eras of video game history, starting off with the Magnavox Odyssey. The collection of V

The Museo civico di storia naturale in Milan (Museum of Natural History in Milan) is one of the most important natural history museums in Italy. The museum contains 23 exhibition rooms on two levels with a total exhibition area of 5,500 m². About 100 dioramas show scenes of fauna and flora in variou

Leonardo3 – The World of Leonardo da Vinci is a museum in Milan that illustrates the discovery of Leonardo da Vinci, the artist and inventor, with working models of his machines and digitalized restorations of his paintings.

Dialogue in the Dark Genoa is a museum in Genoa that is located on a ship in the Darsena area of the Old Port. It is dedicated to the rehabilitation and integration of people with visual impairment. Dialogue in the Dark takes visitors on a journey to explore daily environments & routines through the

The church of Santa Maria di Castello is a Catholic religious building in the historic center of Genoa, on the hillside in the district of Molo. It is one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Genoa and one of the most intact Romanesque buildings in the city. The Museum of Santa Maria di Cast