Those who are interested in the history of art and architecture and in Italy as a key cultural centre in the West that inspired so much of what we see around us every day right up to the present, will probably already have a desire to find a vacation rental in Rome to come and see the Eternal City. However, while the famous monuments known all over the globe such as St Peters and the Colosseum, the Ancient Roman ruins, and the great Renaissance works of art, are all definitely worth seeking out and seeing for yourself, there are newer, lesser-known gems in this impossibly renowned and beloved city that one should definitely take note of. One such example of this is the MAXXI (the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo or National Museum of 21st-century Arts), a wonderful museum of contemporary art and architecture that is, in its own right, an incredible architectural gem.
MAXXI is located in the Flaminio Quarter of Rome, on the site of a former Caserma Montello military barracks and incorporates parts of this earlier structure. The building was designed by lauded architect Zaha Hadid after an international competition was held to find a suitable design. Built over a period of ten years, the building went on to win the Stirling Prize of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2010. Considered an important contemporary gem in the city, it has been described by the Guardian as, "Hadid's finest built work to date," and, "a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome's ancient wonders." Opened to the public in 2010, the museum was the first national institution in Italy that was dedicated to contemporary art and architecture and was conceived of as a broad cultural campus. MAXXI is managed by a Foundation that was established in 2009 by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and headed by Giovanna Melandri and this sleek contemporary museum is a key hub of creativity and a place for experimentation and innovation.
MAXXI is located in the Flaminio Quarter of Rome, on the site of a former Caserma Montello military barracks and incorporates parts of this earlier structure. The building was designed by lauded architect Zaha Hadid after an international competition was held to find a suitable design. Built over a period of ten years, the building went on to win the Stirling Prize of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2010. Considered an important contemporary gem in the city, it has been described by the Guardian as, "Hadid's finest built work to date," and, "a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome's ancient wonders." Opened to the public in 2010, the museum was the first national institution in Italy that was dedicated to contemporary art and architecture and was conceived of as a broad cultural campus. MAXXI is managed by a Foundation that was established in 2009 by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and headed by Giovanna Melandri and this sleek contemporary museum is a key hub of creativity and a place for experimentation and innovation.
In addition to permanent and temporary exhibitions held regularly in the museum, MAXXI also plays host to workshops, conferences, shows, projections, educational projects, conservation work, study, research, laboratories of cultural exploration and experimentation, and more. The museum consists of two different institutions, MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture and the outdoor areas surrounding the museum are also often used as an additional exhibition space as a venue for large-scale works of art. The permanent collection of the museum has been created through a combination of direct acquisitions, commissions, thematic competitions, awards for young artists, donations, and permanent loans and includes works by the likes of William Kentridge, Kara Walker, Ed Ruscha, Gilbert & George, Gino De Dominicis, Michael Raedecker, Anish Kapoor, Gerhard Richter, Francesco Clemente, Lara Favaretto, Marlene Dumas, Maurizio Cattelan, Gabriele Basilico, Kiki Smith, Thomas Ruff, Luigi Ghirri, Manfredi Beninati, Vanessa Beecroft, Stefano Arienti, Francis Alys, Ugo Rondinone, Thomas Schutte, Francesco Gostoli, and more. Additionally, the museum is also home to the archives of architects Carlo Scarpa, Aldo Rossi, and Pier Luigi Nervi.
An incredibly beautiful space full of amazing works of art, architectural drawings, plans, models, and more and a cultural hub that is very much alive and abuzz with the energy of creation and innovation, this wonderful institution is a highlight of Rome that you may have never heard of before. Despite its comparative lack of fame in a city so full of some of the most well-known works of art and architecture in the world, this gem is a must-see for true art-lovers who have found a villa with pool in Rome and who are planning a vacation in Italy.
An incredibly beautiful space full of amazing works of art, architectural drawings, plans, models, and more and a cultural hub that is very much alive and abuzz with the energy of creation and innovation, this wonderful institution is a highlight of Rome that you may have never heard of before. Despite its comparative lack of fame in a city so full of some of the most well-known works of art and architecture in the world, this gem is a must-see for true art-lovers who have found a villa with pool in Rome and who are planning a vacation in Italy.
Photo credits
Picture 1: Camelia.boban / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 2: Commonurbock23 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: Camelia.boban / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 2: Commonurbock23 / CC BY-SA 3.0