The Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali is a Rome museum devoted to musical instruments, housed beside the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Its collection spans musical traditions from Italy and beyond, with historic instruments among the displays.
- Location: Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, 9/A, 00185 Roma.
- Opening pattern: Tuesday through Sunday, 09:30–19:30; closed Mondays.
- Last admission: 18:30.
- Admission: €6 full price or €2 reduced.
What does the museum collect?
The museum’s collection includes more than 3,000 pieces, most originating from the private collection of Italian tenor Evan Gorga. About 840 instruments are on display, covering popular, classical, religious, military and extra-European music.
Look for the 17th-century Barberini harp, an Italian vertical harpsichord and a piano built in 1722 by Bartolomeo Cristofori. The range gives the collection a broad scope, from instruments associated with everyday musical life to notable historical examples.
The museum is housed in Palazzina Samoggia, formerly the Principe di Piemonte barracks. Its setting beside the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme places the collection within a historic part of Rome.
How should you plan your visit?
The surrounding area also has archaeological remains associated with the Imperial Palace, the Circus of Heliogabalus and the Castrense Amphitheatre.
You can combine the museum with a look at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which stands beside Palazzina Samoggia. For context on the guesthouse’s neighbourhood, read this guide to what to know about Furio Camillo.
How do you get to the museum from the guesthouse area?
The museum is at Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, 9/A, in Rome. From Rome Winners Home Guesthouse, it is about 29 minutes on foot or 8 minutes by car. If you are planning onward journeys, the guide to how to use the Rome metro from Furio Camillo covers the station.
What are the ticket, hours and access details?
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 09:30 to 19:30 and closed on Mondays; the last admission is 18:30. Its regular annual closing days are 1 January and 25 December. Admission is €6 for a full-price ticket and €2 for a reduced ticket.
Booking is optional. You can buy tickets at the entrance ticket kiosk or online through the Musei Italiani portal or app. Opening hours, prices and access arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.
A tactile guide covers the museum environment and musical instruments. Guides are also available in Braille, audio and large-print versions. Tactile guided visits for visitors with visual disabilities can be arranged, including the opportunity to touch selected instruments.
FAQs
When did the museum open?
The Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali opened in 1974.
Do you need to book a ticket?
No. Booking is optional, and tickets are available at the entrance kiosk or through the Musei Italiani portal or app.
Are tactile visits available?
Yes. Tactile guided visits for visitors with visual disabilities can be arranged, including the opportunity to touch selected instruments.