Why the Centrale Montemartini is unique
In 1997 the Capitoline Museums moved hundreds of sculptures into Rome's first public power station, decommissioned for decades, while the palaces on the Capitoline were being renovated. It was meant to be temporary storage: the contrast between white marbles and black machinery proved so popular that the arrangement became permanent. The result is Europe's most successful example of industrial archaeology lent to classical art — and a museum where you often have the masterpieces to yourself.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Via Ostiense 106, 00154 Rome |
| Hours | Tuesday–Sunday 9:00am–7:00pm, last entry 6:00pm · closed Mondays, 1 May and 25 Dec |
| Ticket | From about €10; included in the Capitolini Card (€15.50, 7 days) |
| Metro | Line B: Garbatella (7-min walk) or Piramide (12 min) |
| Duration | 1.5–2 hours |
What to see, room by room
Engine Room (Sala Macchine)
The heart of the power station: two diesel engines as tall as three-storey buildings and, in front of them, the collection's most delicate sculpture. Here stand the great pediment of the temple of Apollo Sosianus and the colossal statue of the goddess Fortuna. The deliberate clash of steel and marble works better than any conventional display.
Boiler Room (Sala Caldaie)
Beneath the 15-metre steam boiler are the mosaics and sculptures from the Roman Horti, the patrician gardens of the Esquiline: the Muse Polyhymnia leaning on her rock, refined portraits and the great hunting-scene mosaic.
Column Hall and the train of Pius IX
In the former column hall, finds from Republican Rome. In the pavilion next door, Pope Pius IX's train: three gala carriages from 1858, among the earliest rolling stock of the Papal States' railways — a piece you don't expect, and one that children adore.
Centrale Montemartini tickets
Single ticket
from €10 approx.
Centrale Montemartini only. At the desk or online with a time slot; the venue is quiet, but booking online avoids surprises on exhibition weekends.
Capitolini Card
€15.50 reduced €11.50 · 7 days
Capitoline Museums + Centrale Montemartini on one card valid for a week: if you visit both venues, you save compared with separate tickets.
Ticket with multimedia video
from €12 approx.
Entry with an introductory video on the power station's history: genuinely useful, because the museum says little about its industrial side.
The full official rates and free-entry categories (residents, MIC card, under-6s) are the same as for the Musei in Comune network: details on the tickets and prices page.
Book the Centrale Montemartini
Dated-entry ticket with multimedia video included, instant confirmation.
Getting there and what to pair it with
- Metro B: get off at Garbatella (7-minute walk across the pedestrian bridge) or Piramide (12 minutes along Via Ostiense).
- Bus: routes 23 and 769 stop right outside the power station.
- From the centre: 15 minutes by metro from Colosseo; the classic pairing is the Capitoline in the morning, Montemartini in the afternoon on the Capitolini Card.
In the neighbourhood: the Pyramid of Cestius and the Non-Catholic Cemetery (10 minutes on foot), the gasometer that is the Ostiense district's landmark, and the Tor Marancia street art a little further on. For food, the Testaccio Market is a quarter of an hour away.
Go back to the main Capitoline Museums guide for hours, prices and the other venues.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Centrale Montemartini open on Mondays?
No: it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00am–7:00pm (last entry 6:00pm). It's also closed on 1 May and 25 December. The main venue on the Capitoline, by contrast, opens daily.
How much does a Centrale Montemartini ticket cost?
The single ticket starts at around €10; the Capitolini Card (€15.50) also includes the Capitoline Museums for 7 days. Rome residents enter free.
Does the Capitoline Museums ticket include the Montemartini?
No, the single Capitoline Hill ticket doesn't cover it: you need the Capitolini Card (7 days, both venues) or a dedicated ticket.
How do you get to the Centrale Montemartini?
Metro line B to Garbatella (7-minute walk) or Piramide (12 minutes), or buses 23 and 769 along Via Ostiense. Address: Via Ostiense 106.
How long does the visit take?
An hour and a half to two hours is enough to see everything at a relaxed pace, Pius IX's train included.
Is the Centrale Montemartini worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you love photography or have already done the classic museums: the display among the machinery is unique in Italy and the museum is almost always quiet.