National Museum of Rome - a few museums in Rome, situated in different buildings throughout the city. Founded in 1889 for the collection and storage of artifacts of the 5th century. Don. e. - 3. BC The core of the museum's collection was a collection of archaeological artifacts from the Museum Kirkeriano owned antiquarian Athanasius Kircher. After Rome became the capital of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy, the city launched a massive operation in layout of the streets. In the course of these works have been discovered numerous ancient artifacts, which joined the museum's collection. She was supposed to be exhibited at the Museum of the Tiber (and not created), but in 1901 the government has allocated a collection of Villa Ludovisi, built on the site of the cloister of the 16th century. The latter was built by Michelangelo. The restructuring of the museum building was completed in 1930.

Today the collection of the former Museum of Kirkeriano kept in the crypt Balbi Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31. This crypt was discovered in 1981 during excavations between the churches of Santa Caterina dei Funari and San Stanislao dei Polakki. Once this place was the theater commander Lucius Cornelius Balbus the Younger. All that remains of the theater, as exposed in the crypt Balbi. In addition, you can see the numismatic collection, objects from the Roman Forum, the frescoes of the church of Santa Maria in Via Lata et al. Exhibits. The second floor exhibition is called "Rome from antiquity to the Middle Ages" and illustrates the period of life of the city from the 5th to the 10th century.

Another part of the National Museum of Rome Palazzo Altemps takes near Ponte .  Palazzo is located north of the Piazza Navona .  In ancient times there was one of the two large marble port on the Tiber, whose ruins were discovered during excavations in 1891 .  Most likely, there is a temple of Apollo - on the site of the present church Sant'Appolinare .  Needless to Palazzo Altemps was designed in the 15th century to Girolamo Riario, Pope Sixtus relative IV, - in one of the rooms of the palace frescoes depicting the wedding Girolamo and Caterina Sforza in 1477 .  Palazzo worked on the decoration of Antonio da Sangallo the Elder and Baldassarre Peruzzi .  In 1568 the building became the property of Cardinal Altemps Sittikusa Marcus, who initiated the modernization of the palace .  On his orders, it was built gazebo .  In 1997, Palazzo Altemps was converted into a museum .  Today you can see the sculptures of the Renaissance, and visit the historic private theater, which organizes temporary exhibitions . 

Another part of the museum's collection takes Massimo alle Terme Palazzo, built on the site of Villa Peretti Montalto (was demolished in 1883 during the construction of the railway station). Palazzo built in the style of the 16th century by the architect Camillo Pistrucci. During the Second World War, the building served the military hospital, and in 1981 the government transferred him to the jurisdiction of the National Museum of Rome. The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme exhibited sculptures from different eras, a collection of coins and jewelry, frescoes, stucco, mosaics and others. One of the rooms is kept mummy found in 1964 on Via Cassia in an ornate sarcophagus.