When Rome comes to town…
If, like me, you’re an Italophile, then there’s no better month to be in Melbourne than now. That’s because the Italian Film Festival is playing at Palace cinemas across town. I’ve seen four movies so far, with two yet to go. And a spoiler alert – if you go to see my favourite (Per te), it’s a three or four hanky viewing.
But cinema aside, the real blockbuster event is the ROME: Empire, Power, People exhibition which is at Melbourne Museum – but only for another three weeks!
We visited last Friday. It was the final day of school holidays so there were plenty of little people out and about. (As an aside, don’t you just love the captions for kids in museums nowadays? They get straight to the point, deliver as much as you may wish to know and are a boon for the mentally overloaded or foot-weary!)
But back to the exhibition.
It’s exclusive to Melbourne, curated and co-designed by Museums Victoria, Contemporanea Progetti and draws upon works (180 in all) from the Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze. Displays evoke the highs and lows of la vita quotidiana (daily life) across the hundreds of years of the Roman Empire. Colour, passion, science, design and architecture collide in this vibrant collection which is organised into themes of ambition, life, luxury, the divine and eternity.
My favourite displays were the reproductions of frescoes and mosaics, steeped in the rich Italian hues of crimson, sienna, green and cream. The beauty of these works was only outrivalled by the intricacy of their workmanship. The display of sarcophagi was also extremely moving – sharing many tiny coffins and the toys that had been found inside.
Ancient Rome was the centre of an empire of great power and ambition, told through the scenes of the slaying of Julius Caesar. But it was also a centre of work, creativity and regeneration, as witness the everyday artefacts of the men and women who loved, socialised, served and raised families together.
Don’t miss this stunning insight into life as it was – it’s glorious and thought-provoking in equal measure.
And one last thing…
Q. What’s better than immersing yourself in ancient Rome for two or so hours?
A. Sharing a Prosecco and pizza at Brunetti Classico beforehand!
ROME Exhibition details
ROME: Empire, Power, People is on display until 25 October 2026, exclusively at Melbourne Museum. Tickets are available online.
Location: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street Carlton
Tickets: On sale at Melbourne Museum and online here.
Pop-up Brunetti store onsite!
Melbourne Museum accessibility
Ramps are located throughout the building, as well as lift access, accessible toilets, an accessible cafe, and a gift shop. Additionally, wheelchair hire is available, but booking ahead is advised.
To assist people who have a hearing or speech impairment, there are services available, including hearing loops. For those who are blind or have low vision, tactile components are located throughout the museum, including within the lifts.
More accessible advice can be found on the museum’s website here as well.
Getting there
Public transport
Catch tram route 86 or 96 to Stop 11 Melbourne Museum, on the corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets. It’s about a five-minute walk from there to the museum. The free City Circle Tram stops on Victoria Parade, one stop before the museum, and it’s roughly a 10-minute walk from there. If you’re coming by train, it’s about a 15-minute walk from Parliament Station, which is manageable at a leisurely pace but a bit far if your feet are already tired. Buses 250, 251 and 402 stop on Rathdowne Street, about a five-minute walk from the entrance.
Driving
The car park sits under the museum and is open from 5:30am to midnight daily. You can enter via Rathdowne Street or Nicholson Street, and booking a space ahead online is an option. There’s a lift from the car park to the museum foyer and ticket booth. Accessible spaces are on level P2, next to the lifts. Limited, time-restricted paid street parking is available on Nicholson and Rathdowne Streets. Check the Museums Victoria website for current car park rates before you go.
Drop-off zone
The best spot for drop-off and pick-up is on Rathdowne Street, next to the plaza between the museum and the Royal Exhibition Building. The entrance is from that plaza into the foyer.
The Seniors in Melbourne team attended as guests of Museum Victoria. All opinions are the writers’ own.
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