Set along the banks of the Tiber River, the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome houses the ancient Altar of Augustan Peace, commissioned in 13 BCE to honor Emperor Augustus’s return from Hispania and Gaul. The altar, completed in 9 BCE, is celebrated for its intricate marble reliefs depicting mythological scenes and imperial processions, symbolizing Rome’s prosperity under Augustus. The museum itself, designed by Richard Meier and inaugurated in 2006, is a striking example of modern architecture in a historic setting. Its clean lines, glass walls, and travertine surfaces create a luminous space that contrasts with the altar’s classical detail while preserving its solemnity. The museum also features temporary exhibitions and a digital archive dedicated to Augustan culture. Despite initial controversy over its contemporary design, the Ara Pacis Museum has become a vital cultural landmark, bridging ancient Roman ideals with modern urban expression and offering visitors a contemplative experience of peace, power, and artistic legacy.
Rome ItalyThe Ara Pacis Museum is located on Lungotevere in Augusta in Rome’s historic Campo Marzio district. The museum houses the Ara Pacis Augustae, an ancient altar dedicated to peace built between 13 and 9 BCE to honor Emperor Augustus's return from military campaigns. The museum, designed by architect Richard Meier and opened in 2006, protects this remarkable marble monument with modern environmental controls while offering visitors an immersive experience of Roman history and art. The location is just a short walk from several iconic Roman landmarks. Within minutes, visitors can reach Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna, and the scenic Tiber River embankment. The nearby area also offers easy access to the Keats-Shelley House, Santa Maria del Popolo Church, and multiple museums and galleries, making it a vibrant cultural hub. The museum is well connected by public transport, including the Spagna Metro station, and buses that stop nearby. This central location perfectly blends ancient heritage with the lively atmosphere of one of Rome’s most elegant neighborhoods.
Vatican Museums
Rome
Capitoline Museums
Rome
Galleria Borghese
Rome
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Rome
Baths of Diocletian
Rome
Palazzo Altemps
Rome
Crypta Balbi
Rome
MAXXI
Rome
Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo
Rome
Museum of the Ara Pacis
Rome
Centrale Montemartini
Rome
Museo di Roma
Rome
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma
Rome
Teatro Argentina
Rome
Teatro Brancaccio
Rome
Teatro Eliseo
Rome
Teatro di Marcello
Rome
Auditorium Parco della Musica
Rome
Villa Borghese Gardens
Rome
Villa Doria Pamphilj
Rome
Giardino degli Aranci
Rome
Villa Ada Savoia
Rome
Parco degli Acquedotti
Rome
Botanical Garden of Rome
Rome
Janiculum Hill
Rome
Campo de' Fiori
Rome
Porta Portese Market
Rome
Mercato di Testaccio
Rome
Mercato Centrale Roma
Rome
Trionfale Market
Rome
Mercato dell’Unità
Rome
Galleria Borghese
Rome
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
Rome
Palazzo delle Esposizioni
Rome
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome
Rome
Chiostro del Bramante
Rome
Roseto Comunale
Rome
Pincian Hill Gardens
Rome
Villa Torlonia Gardens
Rome
Castel Sant’Angelo
Rome
Palazzo Venezia
Rome
Palazzo Quirinale
Rome
Palazzo Farnese
Rome
Palazzo Barberini
Rome
Palazzo Spada
Rome
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
Rome
St. Peter’s Basilica
Rome
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome
Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome
San Paolo Fuori le Mura
Rome
Pantheon Rome
Rome
Santa Maria in Trastevere
Rome
San Clemente
Rome
San Luigi dei Francesi
Rome
Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
Rome
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Rome
Museo della Civiltà Romana
Rome
Mercati di Traiano
Rome
Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia
Rome
Museo Napoleonico
Rome
Keats-Shelley House
Rome
Museo Leonardo da Vinci Experience
Rome
Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio
Rome
Museo Barracco
Rome
Galleria Corsini
Rome
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Rome
Fondazione Memmo
Rome
Galleria Lorcan O’Neill
Rome
Gagosian Gallery Rome
Rome
Z20 Gallery
Rome
Monitor
Rome
Pastificio Cerere
Rome
Monte Mario Observatory
Rome