Description
The Palazzo Nuovo is the palace on Piazza del Campidoglio facing its twin, the Palazzo dei Conservatori: the same facade with a portico, to a design by Michelangelo. It houses the ancient sculptures of the Capitoline Museums, opened to the public in 1734 and considered the first public museum in the world.
In the courtyard reclines Marforio, the gigantic statue of a river god. On the upper floors are the Dying Gaul, the Capitoline Venus and two rooms of portraits: 79 of poets and philosophers, 67 of emperors and their circle.
Marforio was one of Rome's “talking statues”: in the Renaissance people stuck satirical writings on it, signed with the name of Pasquino. When it was bought, the Gaul was mistaken for a gladiator; together with the Venus it ended up in Paris during the French occupation and came back to Rome thanks to Antonio Canova.
In the courtyard reclines Marforio, the gigantic statue of a river god. On the upper floors are the Dying Gaul, the Capitoline Venus and two rooms of portraits: 79 of poets and philosophers, 67 of emperors and their circle.
Marforio was one of Rome's “talking statues”: in the Renaissance people stuck satirical writings on it, signed with the name of Pasquino. When it was bought, the Gaul was mistaken for a gladiator; together with the Venus it ended up in Paris during the French occupation and came back to Rome thanks to Antonio Canova.