Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (Museo Nazionale Romano) historical timeline

A 19th-century palace on a papal villa's ground, bought by the State in 1981 and turned into the richest single room of the world's most important archaeological collection.

Chronology

1. 16th century — the site is occupied by Villa Peretti, built by Sixtus V, which later becomes the home of the Massimo family.
2. 1883–1887 — Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is built to a design by Camillo Pistrucci, in neo-cinquecentesco style, on that area.
3. 1889 — the Museo Nazionale Romano is instituted to house the antiquities of Rome; it comes to hold the most important archaeological collection in the world.
4. 1981 — the palace is acquired by the State and undergoes substantial restoration and consolidation to adapt it as an exhibition space.
5. Recent works — a purpose-built caveau is created in the basement for the numismatic collection, with rare pieces, many of them unique.
6. Today — the collection is articulated across four sites: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi and the Terme di Diocleziano, with material divided by context of provenance, nature and collection.

• Official website
• Wikipedia