To get the most out of your visit to the Capitoline Museums, spend about 30 minutes to an hour seeing key pieces like the Lupa Capitolina (she-wolf statue), the Dying Gaul, the Colossus of Constantine, and the Bust of Commodus as Hercules. You’ll also want to stop by works like Cupid and Psyche, Boy with Thorn (Spinario), Medusa, and Caravaggio’s St. John the Baptist. Take some time to admire the architecture too, like the grand staircase and reliefs from the Marcus Aurelius monument. If you’re into special exhibitions like Colors of Antiquity or Origins and Splendors of the Farnese Collection, you’ll want to budget around two hours or more. A quick break at the cafeteria for a meal or gelato with a view is a nice touch. Finally, the third floor has the Capitoline Art Gallery, filled with Renaissance and Baroque art, plus a coin collection, which can easily take another hour or so to explore.
