★★★★★ 5.0
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National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
This building saved modern art by accident. In 1911, architect Cesare Bazzani designed the Palazzo delle Belle Arti for a temporary exhibition... but when parliament debated whether Alberto Burri's experimental canvases were worth the nation's money in 1959, this palace had already preserved them behind its neoclassical facade. Stand before the entrance and look up at the four bronze Fames holding wreaths—they've watched over nearly 20,000 artworks for over a century. The building itself was revolutionary, doubling in size in 1934 to become Italy's largest collection of modern statuary. Inside those 55 rooms, an entire wall celebrates the Macchiaioli painters, rebels who splashed paint instead of blending it smoothly. But the real treasure? Klimt's "The Three Ages of Woman," purchased during that first exhibition in 1911, when this palace was brand new and Rome was still deciding if modern art deserved a permanent home. Turns out, it did.
Did You Know?
- The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome was founded in 1883 to house the newly unified Italian state's contemporary works of art, playing a significant role in establishing an Italian national identity through art.
- The gallery's building, located at Via delle Belle Arti, was designed by Cesare Bazzani and features impressive architectural details, including friezes by Ermenegildo Luppi and sculptures by Adolfo Pantaresi.
- The museum hosts a vast collection of over 20,000 artworks, spanning from the 19th to the 21st century, and includes works by renowned artists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Modigliani, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts of all ages.