Rome Eur

The museums are splayed about Mussolini’s obelisk in P. Guglielmo Marconi. One morning is enough to see them all.

Museo Della Civilta Romana. If ever there was an intimidating museum facade, this is it. This museum was constructed during the Fascist period and charged with the small task of explaining the history of Imperial Rome. It accomplishes this through an absurd number of scale models, which are really worth a look. Elsewhere, a life-size model of a Roman library and a cast of Trajan’s Column are laid out. The same building houses the Planetario e Museo Astronomico, which has planetarium shows several times a day (some available in English) and includes an interactive exhibit on the history of the universe and space exploration. (P. G. Agnelli, 10, down V. Civiltà Romana. ☎06 82 05 91 27. Museo della Civiltà Romana www.museociviltaromana.it. Planetario e Museo Astronomico: www.planetarioroma.it. Museum open Tu-Sa 9am-2pm, Su and holidays 9am-1:30pm. €6.50, reduced €4.50. Planetarium open Tu-F 9am-2pm, Sa-Su 9am-7pm. Last entry 1hr. before closing. Planetarium shows Tu-Su 9:30, 11am, and 12:30pm; Sa-Su 9:30, 11am, 12:30, 3, 4, and 5:30pm. 1 planetarium show and admission to Museo Astronomico €6.50/4.50. Combined ticket for both museums and a show €8.50/6.50.)

Museo Dell’Alto Medioevo. Come see how the Longobords overran the remains of the Roman Empire in the smallest of the EUR museums, dedicated to Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Among the collection of weapons, jewelry, and household items are stone fragments with intricate arabesque designs and finely woven tunics. Unfortunately, “look but don’t learn” is the idea here; the museum’s Italian placards are only slightly informative and there aren’t any in English. (V. Lincoln 3. ☎06 54 22 81 99; medioevo.ostia@arti.beniculturali.it. Open Tu-Su 9am-2pm. Wheelchair-accessible. €2, reduced €1.50. )

Museo Nazionale Delle Arti E Tradizioni Popolari. This museum is a treasure trove of recent Italian culture. Roman marionettes sway beside wine presses, Carnevale costumes dance next to toy sailboats, and Queen Margherita’s sumptuous gondola is beached on the second floor. Exhibits are very well labeled, though background information is rarely translated into English (Francophones are luckier in this regard). On the second floor, a movie room displays several simultaneous projections of documentaries and demonstrations of how tools in the collection are used. Frequent temporary exhibitions on the first floor. (P. G. Marconi 8/10. ☎06 59 26 148; www.popolari.arti.beniculturali.it. Open Tu-Sa 9am-6pm, Su 9am-8pm. Last entry 30min. before closing. €4, reduced €2. Cash only.)

Museo Preistorico Ed Etnografico Luigi Pigorini. The collection is strong in ethnographic artifacts from Italy and contains the skull of the famous Neanderthal Guattari Man, discovered near Circeo. The museum holds more than 61 skulls (all in a row) and countless skeletons, in addition to an exhibition that traces the evolution of man from apes to Marilyn Monroe—thank Darwin for natural selection. (P. G. Marconi 14. ☎06 54 95 21; www.pigorini.arti.beniculturali.it. Reservations for tours ☎06 59 17 319; didattica@amicidelpigorini.it. Open Tu-Su 9am-2pm. Last entry 30min. before closing. €6, reduced €3.)