Best museums in Rome

Eleven miles of halls holding one of the world's greatest collections of Western art, including Raphael's Transfiguration and the Laocoön. The Raphael Rooms contain The School of Athens.

"Eleven miles of halls holding one of the world's greatest collections of Western art, including Raph"

A chapel within the Vatican Museums famous for Michelangelo's painted ceiling.

"A chapel within the Vatican Museums famous for Michelangelo's painted ceiling."

Home to the original bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, imperial reliefs and the Dying Gaul. Other highlights include the Capitoline Venus, the Drunken Faun and micro-mosaics from Hadrian's Villa.

"Home to the original bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, imperial reliefs and the Dying Gau"

A striking contemporary building that houses Augustus's Altar of Peace, marking the start of the Pax Romana. Its exquisite reliefs celebrate Rome's prosperity.

"A striking contemporary building that houses Augustus's Altar of Peace, marking the start of the Pax"

Humanises the empire with rare Roman frescoes, a painted villa garden, jewellery and a golden hair net. It also displays the realistic Boxer at Rest and portraits of emperors from Augustus to the chaotic third century.

"Humanises the empire with rare Roman frescoes, a painted villa garden, jewellery and a golden hair n"

Cardinal Borghese's 17th-century villa, filled with Raphael's Deposition, Canova's Pauline and Caravaggio's David and Goliath. It also holds Bernini's David, Rape of Persephone and Apollo and Daphne; reservations are required.

"Cardinal Borghese's 17th-century villa, filled with Raphael's Deposition, Canova's Pauline and Carav"

One of the Vatican Museums, recommended as a highlight.

"One of the Vatican Museums, recommended as a highlight."

A Vatican Museums pavilion displaying papal carriages, recommended as a highlight.

"A Vatican Museums pavilion displaying papal carriages, recommended as a highlight."

Rooms in the Vatican Museums decorated by Raphael, recommended as a highlight.

"Rooms in the Vatican Museums decorated by Raphael, recommended as a highlight."

Museum of Italian Unification housed inside the Vittoriano monument.

"Museum of Italian Unification housed inside the Vittoriano monument."

A contemporary art gallery on Via di Monserrato that hosted Gilbert Halaby's "Roman Comedy" exhibition.

"A contemporary art gallery on Via di Monserrato that hosted Gilbert Halaby's "Roman Comedy" exhibiti"