Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (National Museum of Musical Instruments)

Situated behind the church of Santa Croce on the site of the former home of St Helena, mother of Constantine, is the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Museum (National Museum of Musical Instruments). The museum boasts of a large collection of musical instruments left by the tenor Evan Gorga between 1865 and 1957.

It is home to over 3000 music instruments that include African mandolins made from Armadillo shells, street pianos from Naples and one of the world’s first pianos, built in 1722.

The collection of music instruments was gathered in a museum that was instituted in Rome in 1974. During this period, some important music instruments were acquired; among these are the Barberini enharmonic harp, dating back to early 17th century and a piano by Bartolomeo Cristofori.

Other instruments include a section devoted to instruments of ancient cultures (Egyptian, Greek, Roman) and one to instruments of non-European countries (China, Japan, Laos, India, Arabia, Turkey, Persia, America, Africa, Oceania).

The source of collection is a group of Italian stringed instruments from the 17th - 20th centuries. The museum is open to members of the public from Tuesday to Sunday at 08h30 until 19h30.