News

ROME: Empire, Power, People 

Melbourne Museum 1 April – 25 October 2026

The Italian Australian Foundation is pleased to support a Melbourne-exclusive exhibition that brings original statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects from Italy to Melbourne Museum. 

From the fall of Julius Caesar to the power and ambition of an Empire, the exhibition showcases the luxury of Imperial Rome, the spectacle of the gladiator arena, the bustling marketplaces and the everyday experiences of Romans. 

The exhibition features 180 objects dating from the Imperial period 1st Century CE to the 3rd Century CE. 

The exhibition, designed by Museums Victoria and developed in collaboration with Contemporanea Progetti and curators Dr Federica Rinaldi, Dr Sara Colantonio and Dr Carlotta Caruso from Museo Nazionale Romano, draws on the collections of the Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze. 

Presented with the support of the Ministero della Cultura, Dipartimento per la valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale and Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana, the Italian Australian Foundation is proud add our support to bring this important exhibition to the Melbourne community.

“Italian history is rich and ancient. The Italian Australian Foundation is proud of our heritage, and we are delighted to work with Melbourne Museum to bring these precious objects to Melbourne. We are pleased Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity to admire and be inspired by these works; they give us insight into the life, politics and culture of ancient Rome” - Rhonda Barro (IAF)