Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum

An incredible museum housed in a gorgeous villa, you shouldn't miss a visit to the National Etruscan Museum.

The Renaissance villa was built between 1550-1555 for Pope Julius III, near the Villa Borghese in what was then the outskirts of Rome. The regal villa and gardens were extraordinary. A fresco inside demonstrates what they looked like in the 16th century. The courtyard, loggias and garden are still impressive.

The focus is on the large Etruscan collection housed inside, the Museo Etrusco Nazionale, also known as ETRU. It was established in 1889 to display the many artifacts from excavations in Lazio and southern Umbria, that include decorated pottery, funerary pieces, bronzes, sculptures and stunning jewelry. A prized piece is the Sarcophogus of the Spouses, carved in 520 BC to decorate a tomb. Hercules, Apollo and many more make appearances, and the collection is well-curated.

Ori Castellani Room - houses a collection of gold and silver jewelry from antiquity to the 1800s, donated by the goldsmith dynasty family, Castellani. The patriarch, Fortunato Pio Castellani, took delight in the archeological finds of his day from the Etruscan tombs and used those items as inspiration for his own jewelry production. There are astounding examples of authentic ancient jewelry and the recreations from the Castellani workshop.

The museum is closed on Mondays.

Hours: from 9:00 AM til 8:00 PM.