The Musei Capitolini collections are among the oldest public collections in the world. The archeological collection goes back to 1471, thanks to Sisto IV’s donation of the Lateran bronzes, including the Lupa, the Spinario and the colossal head of Costantino, to the people of Rome. By this gift, the Pope, made the Campidoglio the core of the historical memory of the Roman people – a symbolic concept confirmed by the later purchases during the first half of the XVI Century.
The transfer of the equestrian statue of Marco Aurelio to its square in 1538 is such as example as it is a Roman original dating back to the II Century AD. The creative genius of Michelangelo was responsible for the base and the project of the Campidoglio square. There was also the gift of the marble statue of Atena in 1541 and the Fasti consolari (marble slabs with the names of the Roman magistrates) found in 1546 in the Roman forum. In 1653, the antique sculptures were moved to the newly terminated Palazzo Nuovo.
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 | | | I Municipio
Piazza del Campidoglio 1
00186 Roma |  |
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