Ara Pacis Museum

Where Ancient Rome Meets Contemporary Architecture
Discover one of the most remarkable monuments of Augustan Rome inside a striking contemporary museum designed by the renowned American architect Richard Meier.
The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Peace, was commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BC to celebrate the return of Emperor Augustus from his campaigns in Gaul and Spain. Completed and dedicated in 9 BC, the monument celebrated the peace and prosperity associated with the beginning of the Pax Romana, the long period of stability that transformed the Roman world.
Today, the ancient altar is protected within the spectacular Ara Pacis Museum, designed by Richard Meier. Its luminous spaces, glass walls, white architectural forms, and clean modern lines create a fascinating dialogue between ancient Roman art and contemporary architecture.
The Ara Pacis itself is an extraordinary masterpiece of Roman sculpture. Its marble surfaces are covered with exquisitely carved reliefs depicting mythological figures, members of Augustus’ family, priests, and scenes celebrating Rome’s origins and imperial destiny.
Among the most fascinating details are the references to Aeneas, the legendary ancestor of the Roman people, and to the gens Iulia, the prestigious family to which Augustus belonged. These images were not simply decorative: they conveyed a powerful message about Rome’s origins, Augustus’ lineage, and the future of the Roman Empire.
After centuries buried and fragmented, the monument was gradually rediscovered and painstakingly reconstructed by archaeologists and historians. Today, its remarkably preserved reliefs allow us to step into the world of Augustus and experience the art, politics, mythology, and ideals of ancient Rome.
The Ara Pacis is more than an ancient monument—it is a fascinating encounter between two visions of Rome: the power and symbolism of Augustus’ age and the bold modern architecture of Richard Meier.