The Zaha Hadid–designed building that Rome's leading contemporary-art gallery occupies is certainly striking. Formerly a barracks, the curved concrete structure has a multilayered geometric facade and a cavernous interior full of snaking walkways and suspended staircases. A changing selection of works from the gallery's impressive collection are on display in Gallery 1, but the main drawcards here are the temporary exhibitions, which feature big-name and up-and-coming artists from Italy and around the world. Great cafe and gift shop, too.

Entry to Gallery 1 is free from Tuesday to Thursday.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rome attractions

1. Auditorium Parco della Musica

0.41 MILES

Designed by starchitect Renzo Piano and inaugurated in 2002, Rome's flagship cultural centre is an audacious work of architecture consisting of three…

2. Museo degli Strumenti

0.41 MILES

This museum in the Auditorium Parco della Musica showcases the 500-strong collection of historic musical instruments belonging to the Accademia di Santa…

3. Museo Archeologico

0.45 MILES

In the Auditorium Parco della Musica, this small archaeological museum is dedicated to the ancient Roman villa that was unearthed during construction of…

4. Ponte Milvio

0.5 MILES

A cobbled footbridge, Ponte Milvio is best known as the site of the ancient Battle of the Milvian Bridge. It was first built in 109 BC to carry Via…

5. Foro Italico

0.59 MILES

At the foot of the heavily wooded Monte Mario, the Foro Italico is a grandiose Fascist-era sports complex, centred on the Stadio Olimpico, Rome’s 70,000…

6. Stadio dei Marmi

0.64 MILES

Overshadowed by the mighty Stadio Olimpico, this small athletics stadium is part of the Fascist-era Foro Italico sports complex. It takes its name from…

7. Villa Poniatowski

0.84 MILES

Part of the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia, this villa has archaeological finds relating to the pre-Roman Umbri and Latin peoples.

8. Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia

0.9 MILES

Pope Julius III’s 16th-century villa provides the often-overlooked but charming setting for Italy’s finest collection of Etruscan and pre-Roman treasures…