Aula Ottagona

CURRENTLY CLOSED

The exterior of the Aula Ottagona. (Photo by Lalupa)

The Aula Ottagona is both the most atmospheric branch of Rome's Museo Nazionale Romano and the only one that's admission-free

The only bit of the excellent Rome National Museum that's admission-free is this huge brick room left over from the ancient Baths of Diocletian, a huge complex of halls and buildings that has since been infested by monasteries, government government buildings, and the Michelangelo-designed Santa Maria degli Angeli church.

Inside, the Aula Ottagona—the inventively named "Octagonal Hall"—displays just a few, but very choice examples of oversized, 2nd-century BC sculptures that hail from various bathhouses across Rome. The weird metal netting of a dome inside is left over from when this room did duty as a planetarium.

This hidden room of statues is also convenient for being right around the corner from Rome's otherwise inconveniently located main tourist office and just up from the grandiose Piazza della Repubblica.

Tips & links

Details

ADDRESS

Via G. Romita 8 (between Via Cernaia and Via Parigi, just north of Piazza della Repubblica)
tel. +39-06-390-8071
archeoroma.beniculturali.it
or
www.coopculture.it

OPEN

Open only for special exhibits

ADMISSION

Varies

TRANSPORT

Bus: 61, 62, 85, 150F, 175, 492, N1, N5, N12
Metro: Barberini (A) or Repubblica (A)
Hop-on/hop-off: Piazza Barberini or Terminal B

How long does Aula Ottgona take?

Planning your day: When it is open (only for special exhibits) you can take a quick peek in 10–20 minutes or so.

Throw in the other parts of the old baths complex—the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Baths of Diocletian—and maybe you're looking an an hour to 90 minutes total.

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