Museum of Rome in Trastevere

The Museum of Rome in Trastevere, located in the former monastery of the Barefoot Carmelites at Piazza Sant’Egidio, is a hidden treasure that celebrates Roman popular life between the 18th and 20th centuries. Founded in 1977, the museum offers a unique overview of the culture, traditions, and folklore of the eternal city through a rich and varied collection. The museum is housed in a historic building dating back to the 17th century, when the Carmelites founded their monastery. After the unification of Italy and the suppression of the ecclesiastical axis, the building was destined for various civil uses, including a barracks and a lazaretto. In the 1960s, an ambitious architectural recovery project transformed the dilapidated building into a refined museum space, reopened to the public in 1976.The museum’s permanent collection includes about 1,000 works including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and documents, illustrating the daily life and popular traditions of Rome. One of the museum’s strengths is the series of watercolors “Picturesque Rome” by Ettore Roesler Franz, created between 1876 and 1896. These works document glimpses of the city in transformation, immortalizing corners of Rome that were disappearing due to modernization.The museum’s rooms are set up to recreate typical Roman life environments, such as shops, taverns, and domestic scenes. These reconstructions offer visitors an immersion in the atmospheres and customs of the time, allowing a better understanding of the daily life of Romans in the past.In addition to Roesler Franz’s works, the museum’s collection also includes works by artists such as Gino Severini, Diego Angeli, and Trilussa, the famous Roman dialect poet. Photographs by Mario Carbone, Emilio Gentilini, and Gianni Turillazzi document the social and urban life of Rome in the 20th century, with a particular focus on the Trastevere district and its inhabitants.The museum is also known for its temporary exhibitions, ranging from contemporary art to photography, offering a dynamic and varied exhibition program. These thematic exhibitions delve into various aspects of Roman and international culture, enriching the visitor experience.One of the most fascinating rooms in the museum is dedicated to Trilussa, set up with objects belonging to the poet, including furniture, books, and manuscripts. A multimedia installation created by Studio Azzurro offers an immersive experience, with projections and sounds that recreate the atmosphere of the poet’s life.