Many art museums around the world attract visitors due to their collections or the striking architecture of their buildings, but among them, the Museum of Art of the XXI century (MAXXI) shines for the blend of its unique contemporary qualities and the vision behind it.
Established as a Foundation in 2009 by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, since its inception the MAXXI was conceived as a laboratory for cultural experimentation and innovation, a center for events and cultural activities, a hub to concentrate the study, research and production of contemporary art and design.
The building and its location encapsulate all these goals.
The organic inspiration of the building is evident from the very first moment we arrive and are welcomed by a chorus of sounds designed to spark the visitor's imagination.
This perception continues as we enter the building and feel as if swallowed by a giant whale, and then we are confronted by a maze of staircases connecting the various floors of a building in which all straight lines seem to have been banished from sight.
Designed by Zaha Hadid - selected from a pool of 273 entries from all over the world-, the
building carries the visitor from hall to hall, from exhibit to exhibit, in a continuous, fluid parcourse.
This fluidity and the light that bathes most of its halls lend the museum a quiet atmosphere, which allows the visitor to contemplate the art comfortably and reflect on it at their own pace.
Each space has a character of its own, each one carries a special narrative, including a small oasis for the visitors to stop and breathe in between exhibitions before continuing their visit.
Although the building's architecture is an art piece in itself, it does not overshadow the art exhibited there but rather interplays with it as it lends its spaces generously to their display.
The museum's ample, luminous spaces are designed to host even monumental art installations without ever cramming the halls or disturbing the view of other artworks.
Part of the MAXXI's fundamental mission is its educational approach, and aside from its MAXXI Education program (which programs events and lectures for all ages), and its higher education program, the texts that accompany each art piece exhibited also include questions for the visitor to ponder and reflect, sparking further discussions and helping to enlarge their perception.
Located in a residential area of Rome and surrounded by buildings of traditional architecture, the museum's lines and structure, however, integrate well into this space.
Designed to both mark a contrast with its surroundings while also embracing it, as reflected by its ample square open to the community, the museum also incorporates a study area, a cafe, and a bookstore.
All these make the Museum of the XXI century in Rome a great visit for anyone intersted in art, culture, and education.
Although distant from the traditional Museum route in Rome, the MAXXI is well worth a visit to discover the best that contemporary art in Rome has to offer.
To Learn More
Location: Via Guido Reni, 4 A, Rome 00196 (Flaminio).
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm.
Cost: € 15(concessions available)
More information: https://www.maxxi.art/en/
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