MAXXI, National museum of contemporary art in Flaminio district, Rome, Italy
MAXXI is a national museum of contemporary art in the Flaminio district of Rome, Italy, with over 29,000 square meters of exhibition space. The interior consists of interlocking galleries that flow across multiple levels and receive natural light through long glass windows.
The Italian Ministry of Culture purchased a former barracks in the Flaminio district in 1997 to create a contemporary cultural center. British architect Zaha Hadid won the competition in 1999, and the building opened in 2010.
The name comes from Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, meaning Museum of 21st Century Arts. Visitors experience a living center for contemporary art with performances, film screenings and installations that attract younger Romans in particular.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM, with extended hours until 10 PM on Saturdays, and offers guided tours and educational programs. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as galleries spread across multiple levels and exploring takes time.
Zaha Hadid originally planned an even larger structure, but budget limits led to a scaled-down design. Still, she created a building that feels like a walkable artwork where the architecture itself becomes part of the exhibition.
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