Egypt Exhibition Rome: Ara Pacis Tickets and Weekend
Intense eyes, delicate jewellery and faces painted almost two thousand years ago still seem to meet the viewer's gaze. "The Power of Portraiture: Egypt and Rome. The Faces of Fayum" brings more than 110 objects to the exhibition galleries of the Ara Pacis Museum, assembling in Rome an exceptional group of some of the ancient world's most compelling and fragile portraits.
Running from 5 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, the exhibition is an excellent reason to plan a cultural weekend in Rome. Visitors can combine it with the Ara Pacis itself, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and a walk along the Tiber without overloading the itinerary.
This guide covers tickets, admission prices, opening times, highlights and practical weekend ideas. One distinction matters from the outset: an exhibition-only ticket does not automatically include admission to the Ara Pacis Museum and its ancient altar.
To arrange accommodation, parking and your stay, email info@hoteldomidea.com with your dates, party size and whether you are driving.
The exhibition is in Rome for a limited season and popular weekends can fill quickly: check live availability and book Hotel Domidea now.
The exhibition in brief
The exhibition is titled "The Power of Portraiture: Egypt and Rome. The Faces of Fayum" and is held in the Exhibition Space of the Ara Pacis Museum, with entrance at Via di Ripetta 180, Rome. It runs from 5 November 2026 to 2 May 2027. Standard hours are daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, with last admission one hour before closing. On 24 and 31 December, hours are 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, with last admission at 1:00 pm, while the museum is listed as closed on 25 December and 1 May. More than 110 objects are on display. The full-price exhibition-only ticket costs €17 and the reduced one €15, with an advance-booking fee of €1 under the official conditions.
Prices, hours and conditions can change. Check the official exhibition page and museum notices before travelling.
What are the Fayum portraits?
The Fayum portraits are images painted on thin wooden panels or, in some cases, fabric. Created in Roman-period Egypt, they were positioned over the deceased person's face within the mummy wrappings.
Their visual power comes from the meeting of Egyptian funerary practice, the painterly traditions of the Greek and Hellenistic world, and Rome's interest in individual identity and social status.
Some were painted in tempera; others used encaustic, mixing pigment with heated wax. Direct gazes, luminous skin, jewellery, hairstyles and clothing give the people an extraordinary sense of presence.
Fewer than one thousand survive worldwide. Their fragility makes loans uncommon, which is one reason the Ara Pacis exhibition is so significant.
Why this exhibition is exceptional
The display brings together more than 110 objects, including painted panels, shrouds, funerary masks, marble, plaster casts and ancient jewellery. Nearly 50 Fayum portraits have been assembled through an international loan programme.
According to the official exhibition presentation, Egypt is lending almost all the panels held in its collections, many leaving the country for the first time. They include the celebrated Tondo of the Two Brothers, or Antinoopolis Tondo, restored in Egypt by Italian conservators as part of the exhibition project.
The Egyptian group is joined by 23 works from the Musée du Louvre, alongside loans from the Getty Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Landesmuseum Württemberg and other institutions. A young portrait recently discovered by an Italian archaeological mission is being shown publicly for the first time.
The exhibition is therefore more than a sequence of beautiful faces. It reconstructs the world in which Roman concepts of portraiture and Egyptian beliefs about death came together.
Highlights not to miss
The Tondo of the Two Brothers
Its circular format and the presence of two sitters set it apart from the usual individual panels.
Portraits from Egypt
The large Egyptian loan group offers an unusual opportunity to compare works normally kept in Egypt.
The Louvre works
The Louvre's panels and rare linen shrouds show how the image of the deceased could be integrated into different supports and funerary solutions.
International loans
International loans reveal variations in technique, hairstyle, jewellery and fashion.
The portrait from the Italian excavations
The newly excavated portrait connects current archaeology with the exhibition narrative.
Visitors do not need to memorise every lender. Look instead at the direction of each gaze, skin modelling, jewellery, clothing, hair, facial hair and the relationship between portrait and funerary support.
Which ticket should you buy?
The official ticket page separates several products. Read the complete name before paying.
Exhibition-only ticket
- full price: €17;
- reduced: €15;
- does not include the Ara Pacis Museum;
- the published advance-booking fee is €1.
Exhibition-only family rate
- €22 for two adults with children under 18;
- €11 for one adult with children under 18;
- does not include museum admission;
- the official site states that it can be booked through contact centre 060608 or at the Exhibition Space ticket desk.
Combined museum and exhibition ticket
- full-price non-resident: €25;
- reduced non-resident: €19.
Consider this option if you want both the temporary show and the Ara Pacis Museum. Always check current eligibility for reductions.
Free and reduced admission
The official website lists specific qualifying categories. Visitors must show valid evidence, or the difference may be charged. Free tickets are listed as bookable through 060608.
Do not confuse free museum admission for certain groups or residents with free access to the separately ticketed exhibition space.
How to buy official tickets online
Use the purchase link on the Ara Pacis Museum website, which leads to the Musei in Comune ticketing service:
1. open the official exhibition page;
2. select the online purchase link;
3. check the full exhibition title;
4. choose exhibition-only or combined admission;
5. verify date, quantity and ticket categories;
6. read the conditions;
7. retain the digital or printed receipt.
Pre-purchased tickets are listed as non-refundable and non-changeable. Check every detail before payment.
Same-day tickets are available from the box office subject to capacity, but advance booking is sensible for weekends and holidays.
Opening hours and closure dates
Standard published hours are 9:30 am to 7:30 pm daily, with last admission one hour before closing.
Special arrangements listed are:
- 24 December: 9:30 am–2:00 pm, last admission 1:00 pm;
- 25 December: closed;
- 31 December: 9:30 am–2:00 pm, last admission 1:00 pm;
- 1 May: closed.
Recheck these details around holidays, strikes, events or maintenance. The museum's notices page is an essential part of planning.
How long should you allow?
For an independent visit, allow approximately 75–90 minutes as a practical estimate rather than an official time limit. Visitors who read every label or sketch may want longer, subject to venue rules.
Groups and guided visits have specific requirements, including a published 75-minute maximum in the exhibition space. If you buy a combined ticket, allow additional time for the museum and ancient altar.
Visiting with children
Portraits offer children an immediate route into history. Encourage them to look for elaborate jewellery, different hairstyles, direct gazes, preserved colour and contrasts between masks and panels.
Explain beforehand that these were real funerary portraits. Some children may be sensitive to discussion of death and mummies.
The family rate is attractive but must be booked through the stated channels and covers only the exhibition. Check official notices for pushchairs, accessibility, workshops and children's activities.
Accessibility
The exhibition page lists scheduled accessible activities, including Italian Sign Language and tactile visits. Confirm dates, availability and booking through the official calendar.
Visitors with specific requirements should contact the museum or 060608 in advance to discuss entrance, companions, mobility and services.
Venue and correct entrance
The exhibition occupies the Ara Pacis Museum Exhibition Space, with the entrance listed at Via di Ripetta 180, Rome. It is in the Campo Marzio area, beside the Tiber and Piazza Augusto Imperatore, within walking distance of Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps.
Because the museum and temporary exhibition have distinct ticket products, follow the signs and show the correct ticket. Arriving ten to fifteen minutes early allows time to find the entrance.
Getting to the Ara Pacis
The museum is walkable from several central areas. The metro can be combined with a walk, while bus and taxi journeys depend on traffic and diversions.
Check live directions, strikes and service changes. Allow for cobblestones if travelling with luggage or a pushchair, and do not drive to the entrance without checking ZTL restrictions and parking.
Hotel Domidea advertises a courtesy bus to selected metro stations, by reservation, on a set schedule and subject to availability. Confirm stops and operation for your dates.
Driving and leaving the car at the hotel
The Ara Pacis is in a central district where traffic restrictions and parking can make driving inconvenient. A practical alternative is to reach the hotel, park and continue by metro, taxi or another connection.
Hotel Domidea's published facilities include private outdoor unguarded parking subject to availability, a covered unguarded garage reservable for a daily fee subject to availability, taxi booking, airport-transfer booking and multilingual 24-hour reception.
The official hotel website places the property near the GRA ring road's exit 14, Tor Cervara, and the Tor Cervara exit of the A24. Confirm prices, space and terms.
Driving to Rome? Email info@hoteldomidea.com to ask which parking option is available for your stay.
Hotel Domidea as a cultural-weekend base
Hotel Domidea publishes facilities including multilingual 24-hour reception, Wi-Fi, international buffet breakfast, luggage storage, parking, cocktail bar, partner restaurants nearby, taxi and transfer booking, and a courtesy bus subject to reservation and availability.
Families and small groups can ask about Executive Family Rooms. The official page describes two separate spaces with a double bed and sofa bed or two single beds; some have balconies. A complimentary cot is listed on request and requires confirmation.
Inclusions depend on room category and rate. Check occupancy, breakfast, cancellation and parking before booking.
Chosen your weekend? Check live room availability and book through the official system now before your preferred category disappears.
Two-day itinerary: Saturday-morning exhibition
Friday evening
Arrive and check in on Friday evening.
Saturday morning
Reach the Ara Pacis early, visit the exhibition and add the museum if you purchased the combined ticket.
Saturday afternoon
Continue towards Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Via del Corso, the Spanish Steps or Piazza del Popolo, choosing only a few stops.
Sunday
Explore a second area: the Colosseum and Forum with advance tickets, the Capitoline Museums, Vatican City or Villa Borghese. Avoid squeezing two major museums into a short morning.
Alternative itinerary: afternoon exhibition
Spend the morning around Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Campo de' Fiori. After lunch, visit the exhibition, then walk along the Tiber or towards the Pincio terrace.
Pay attention to last admission. Booking too near closing will make a relaxed visit difficult.
An Egypt-and-Rome themed weekend
Extend the theme through Rome's obelisks, relevant collections in the Vatican Museums, the Barracco Museum, the Capitoline Museums and imperial archaeology. Check current opening arrangements and tickets for each site.
Do not schedule too many institutions in one day. The exhibition deserves attention, and Rome's museums involve transfer time.
A romantic weekend
The portraits, riverside location and central walks suit a couples' break. Visit in the afternoon, continue towards Piazza di Spagna or Piazza Navona, reserve dinner and consider a second night for an unhurried departure.
The standard closing time is 7:30 pm, with last admission one hour earlier, so verify the hours before planning an evening visit.
A family weekend
Families should contact the booking centre about the dedicated rate. Follow the exhibition with a short walk, a break or outdoor time rather than another lengthy museum.
Villa Borghese, an obelisk hunt or a riverside walk may work better for children after the Fayum portraits.
Weekend budget
Include exhibition-only or combined tickets, advance-booking fees, accommodation, breakfast if excluded, parking, city transport, meals, other museums, applicable local tax and cancellation terms.
Couples wanting both the show and Ara Pacis should compare two combined tickets under current conditions. Families should check whether the exhibition-only family rate fits their plans and what separate admission is required for the museum.
When to book
Although the exhibition runs for several months, weekends, Christmas holidays, long weekends, Easter and the final weeks may be busier. Book early if your dates cannot change, you need a family room or garage, or you want a precise exhibition time.
For tailored hotel information, email info@hoteldomidea.com.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying exhibition-only admission and expecting museum entry.
- Buying museum-only admission and expecting the Fayum exhibition.
- Failing to check the date before payment.
- Ignoring the no-refund and no-change conditions.
- Using the wrong entrance.
- Arriving after last admission.
- Assuming the exhibition is free for residents.
- Buying through a site not linked from the official museum page.
- Driving into central Rome without checking ZTL restrictions.
- Scheduling too many major visits in one day.
48-hour checklist
1. Check the official exhibition page.
2. Open the museum notices section.
3. Confirm date, ticket category and included admissions.
4. Save the receipt and QR code offline.
5. Check public transport and strikes.
6. Confirm hotel parking or transport services.
7. Review the weather forecast.
8. Reserve restaurants if necessary.
9. Leave time around the visit.
10. Carry evidence for reduced or free admission.
FAQ – Egypt exhibition at the Ara Pacis
What is the exhibition's official title?
"The Power of Portraiture: Egypt and Rome. The Faces of Fayum."
When does it run?
From 5 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, according to the official exhibition page.
Where is it held?
In the Ara Pacis Museum Exhibition Space, with admission at Via di Ripetta 180 in Rome.
What are the opening hours?
Published standard hours are 9:30 am–7:30 pm daily, with last admission one hour before closing. Some holidays have reduced hours or closure.
How much do tickets cost?
Exhibition-only admission is €17 full price and €15 reduced. Combined museum and exhibition admission is €25 full-price non-resident and €19 reduced non-resident. Always check current prices and eligibility.
Does the exhibition ticket include the Ara Pacis?
Not if it says "exhibition only." Choose the combined product if you want both.
Is there a family ticket?
Yes, for the exhibition only: €22 for two adults with children under 18 or €11 for one adult with children under 18, under the official conditions. It must be booked through the specified channels.
What can visitors see?
More than 110 objects, including nearly 50 Fayum portraits, the Tondo of the Two Brothers, Egyptian loans, Louvre works and major international loans.
How long does the visit take?
Allow approximately 75–90 minutes for an independent visit. This is a planning estimate, not an official mandatory duration for individual visitors.
Where can I stay for the exhibition?
Hotel Domidea offers several room categories, parking subject to availability and services useful for planning a Rome stay. Email info@hoteldomidea.com for information.
Book a weekend and meet the faces of Roman Egypt
The Ara Pacis exhibition brings together works that rarely travel and offers a close encounter with individuals who lived between the worlds of Egypt and Rome many centuries ago. It will appeal to anyone interested in archaeology, painting, ancient fashion, identity and the human face.
An overnight stay turns the visit into a complete weekend: arrive without rushing, see the exhibition at a reserved time, walk through central Rome and dedicate a second day to the city.
Request accommodation information: info@hoteldomidea.com
Do not leave your room and exhibition plans until the last minute: check the available rate and book Hotel Domidea through the official booking engine now.