Musei Capitolini

This summer, the best decision we made was not to travel. We only left home for two nights in Rome, where our plan was to visit the Society Limonta store (which happened to be closed for summer holidays) and look at ancient beautiful things (that are everywhere in Rome).

We usually choose one exhibition or museum to go, this time it was Musei Capitolini.

Opened in 1734 and considered the first museum in the world, Musei Capitolini consists of a group of art and archaeological museums located on top the Capitoline Hill in the heart of Rome. The museum is gigantic and you would have to spend an entire day on the premises, if you wanted to get a good look at it.

I was most interested in the statues and sculptures – such enormous pieces of stone so skillfully carved, it must have taken a lifetime to finish a piece – and even more, old signs containing written information about laws, politics and religion. Everyone interested in graphic design should study these pieces.

“In Roman times, characters were usually carved using sharp tools, so as a result the Roman script has a raised flourish – a ‘serif’ – at the end of each stroke. This can be seen as a visual manifestation of people’s appreciation of letters’ beauty. Since the carved words were deeply associated with politics and religion, a powerful aura radiated from the delicate structure of letters and their combinations. In short, they were far more than words to be read – their grand and magnificent inscription affected the course of human destiny.”

Musei Capitolini
Piazza del Campidoglio 1
00186 Roma

Quote from Kenya Hara’s book White.