Tuesday, 07 July 2009 14:14

Marble and Steel

A Visit to Centrale Montemartini Museum in Rome

 

 

 

The Museum Centrale Montemartini was opened in 1997 as a temporary space hosting part of the collection of the Capitoline Museums. The building was a former power generation plant of ACEA, the municipal utility.

 

In 2005 became a permanent museum showing masterpieces of ancient Roman and Greek sculptures and precious artifacts found in excavations of the late nineteenth century and the 1930s. The display reconstructs some of the great monumental complexes and illustrates the development of ancient Rome from the Republican era to the late Imperial age.

 

The museum is truly fascinating for its many stark contrasts. The white candor of the marble sculptures is enhanced by the background of the grey steel of the power generation engines.  Ancient artifacts are opposed to modern machineries.

 

But not only the materials and the timing of these pieces are contrasting each other: it is fascinating to see these forms of artistic expression opposed to the function of machines built to fuel the industrial progress.  Statues of ancient Romans are staring pipes and manometers, and they seem to ask to themselves in what kind of world they have ended.

 

Opening times: Tue-Sun 9.00 am – 7pm

Adress: Via Ostiense 106, 00154, Roma

Tickets: € 4,50 (ordinary) € 2,50 (reduced)

 

You can enjoy a private tour of the Montemartini museum within our Ostiense neighborhood walking tour


 

www.centralemontemartini.org

 

If you are interested in museums inside power plants check the Tate Modern next time you are in London www.tate.org.uk/modern/

 

In Toronto you can find a contemporary art gallery in a former power plant: www.thepowerplant.org

 
  
  

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