Rome's museum of the 19th and 20th centuries

The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea — known as the GNAM or simply "La Galleria Nazionale" — is Italy's leading museum devoted to 19th- and 20th-century art. It stands on Viale delle Belle Arti, along the northern edge of Villa Borghese, inside an imposing palace built for the 1911 International Exhibition.

While most visitors to Rome chase the ancient and the baroque, the GNAM holds a different and often surprising treasure: from the Macchiaioli to the avant-gardes, from Canova to Klimt, from Van Gogh to Modigliani, all the way to Pollock and Fontana. It's the perfect stop for lovers of modern art who want a rich museum without the crowds.

A palace built for art

The building, the Palazzo delle Belle Arti, was designed by architect Cesare Bazzani for the 1911 Exhibition marking the fiftieth anniversary of Italian unification, then expanded in the 1930s. Its monumental façade, vast light-filled halls and grand staircases make it one of Rome's most elegant exhibition spaces.

The collection numbers some 20,000 works of painting and sculpture, and in recent years the displays have often blended eras and styles to spark unexpected dialogues between the works.

The works you can't miss

Among the masterpieces that made the GNAM famous:

  • Antonio Canova — the towering Hercules and Lichas, a pinnacle of neoclassical sculpture.
  • Gustav Klimt — The Three Ages of Woman, one of the museum's best-loved works.
  • Vincent van Gogh — a painting from his French period, among the artist's few canvases in Italy.
  • Amedeo Modigliani, Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni — Italian art between portraiture and Futurism.
  • Giorgio de Chirico and Metaphysical art.
  • Lucio Fontana, Jackson Pollock and the art of the later 20th century.

You'll find the full curated list in our dedicated guide: what to see at the GNAM.

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Where it is and what's nearby

The GNAM sits at Viale delle Belle Arti 131, on the edge of Villa Borghese. Right nearby you'll find:

  • Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia — the world's most important Etruscan collection, just steps away.
  • Galleria Borghese — inside Villa Borghese, with Bernini and Caravaggio (advance booking required).
  • Bioparco and the gardens of Villa Borghese, perfect for a break.

It's an ideal area for putting together a half day of art, far from the crowds of the center.

How much time you need

A full visit takes 1.5–2 hours. If you're short on time, focus on the masterpiece rooms (Canova, Klimt, Van Gogh) and the 20th-century avant-gardes. Paired with Villa Giulia, the GNAM comfortably fills a half day.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rome's GNAM? It's the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Italy's leading museum devoted to 19th- and 20th-century art, with some 20,000 works. It stands on Viale delle Belle Arti, on the edge of Villa Borghese.

Which artists can you see at the GNAM? Among others Canova, Klimt, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Balla, Boccioni, de Chirico, Fontana and Pollock: a journey from neoclassicism to the avant-gardes and the later 20th century.

Is the GNAM the same as the Galleria Borghese? No. The GNAM is the museum of modern and contemporary art on Viale delle Belle Arti; the Galleria Borghese, inside Villa Borghese, holds ancient and baroque art (Bernini, Caravaggio) and requires advance booking.

How much time do you need to visit the GNAM? About 1.5–2 hours for a full visit; less if you focus only on the main masterpieces.

Is the GNAM worth visiting? Yes, especially if you love modern art: it's rich, elegant and far less crowded than the museums in the center, set in a green and peaceful corner of the city.

See also

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Article #262 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026