DK Travel : Rome : History & Culture

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Museo Barracco

The museum’s basement dates from the 4th century AD: walls, flooring, column stumps, a bit of cornice and sculpted relief, a marble basin and a large double pestle for hand-grinding grains can be seen.
Museo della Casina delle Civette

One of the restored buildings in Villa Torlonia, Mussolini’s abode as prime minister, this Art Nouveau cottage displays ceramic and stained-glass decorations, including owl motifs, which gives it its name, “The Little House of the Owls”. The setting is now a public park.
Museo della Civiltà Romana

A Fascist Art Deco Temple of Karnak is home to this fascinating museum. The most striking exhibit is a 1:250 scale model of what Rome looked like in the 4th century. There are also models of ancient furniture, musical instruments and other items.
Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio

The Gothic Sacro Cuore del Suffragio church is host to a truly spooky display. A glass case preserves various types of physical “evidence” (mostly handprints somehow burned on to surfaces) of visitations from dead souls, waiting in Purgatory to move up into Heaven.
Museo delle Mura

Porta San Sebastiano is the most impressive gate surviving in the Aurelian Wall (see Beyond the City Walls). It houses a museum containing prints and models illustrating the wall’s history, and you can take a short walk along the restored parapets, which provide great views, especially along the Via Appia.
Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari

The National Museum of Pasta proudly proves that pasta was invented in Italy in the 12th century. Discover how pasta is made from durum wheat, which processes are used to create pastasciutta (dried pasta), and how eating it al dente (chewy) makes it easier to digest.
Mussolini Takes Power

Benito “Il Duce” Mussolini, leader of the nationalistic Fascist Party, marched on Rome in 1922 and was declared prime minister. Delusions of imperial grandeur led him to excavate many of the ruins we see today. He allied Italy with Hitler, but when the tides turned, Mussolini was deposed and Italy joined Allied troops. The current Republic was set up in 1946.
Nanni Moretti

Often autobiographical writer/director (b.1953), likened to Woody Allen.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

During his Italian sojourn from 1857 to 1859, the American man of letters (1804–64) was so moved by an ancient sculpture in the Capitoline museums he crafted his final novel The Marble Faun around it.
Nero

The most notorious for his excesses, Nero (54–68) fancied himself a great singer and showman. He eventually committed suicide.