Musei Capitolini

For my Ancient Art history class, we have been meeting at different sites each week and either going into museums or walking around different parts of Rome.  My favorite museum so far has been the Musei Capitolini which is on the Campidoglio or Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome.  The Campidoglio was considered to be the center of the world from Ancient times through the Renaissance.  The piazza that is there today was designed by Michelangelo.  The Musei Capitolini has some of the oldest Roman art and underneath, there are still ruins of an ancient temple.  My favorite pieces were the Constantine head and feet and the original Marcus Aurelius statue.  There is a Marcus Aurelius statue in the middle of the piazza but it is a replica.  Since the museum is on a hill, we got to go into the courtyard and there was a great view of the Rome skyline and the Roman Forum.