The 10 Most Beautiful Buildings in Rome

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5Museo dell’Ara Pacis

In a city that is usually a mishmash of burnt colours and architectural styles, the Ara Pacis museum stands out for the simple lines of its clean white and glass façade. The museum’s unique structure was designed by American architect Richard Meier to act as a home for a single (but exquisite) ancient altar.

Dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of Peace, the elaborately carved marble structure was once part of a massive complex. Constructed in 13 BC to mark the return of Emperor Augustus to Rome, the altar was reassembled in its current location near the Tiber River in 1938.