Michael L walked into Melbourne Museum expecting a history lesson. He left with his phone full of photos comparing ancient Roman ruins to their modern counterparts, thanks to an AI-powered ‘Then and Now’ section that has visitors lingering in front of screens that overlay the past onto the present.
The Melbourne-exclusive ROME: Empire, Power, People opened on 1 April 2026 and runs until 25 October, bringing more than 150 original artefacts from two of Italy’s premier archaeological collections to Carlton for the first time. The objects, drawn from the Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, span the 1st to 3rd Century CE and include statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday household items, but it is the immersive scenography that is drawing crowds and reviews.
‘I particularly enjoyed the imaginative use of AI imagery, especially the Then and Now section,’ Michael L wrote in a Headout review. ‘Fully recommend this exhibition.’
The show builds a sensory experience with projections, lighting and music wrapped around the artefacts. A student reviewer from Farrago Magazine described the installation as ‘remarkable,’ noting that the projections and lighting ‘facilitated an immersive sensory experience (and some very Instagrammable photos!).’
Developed with Italian curators Dr Federica Rinaldi, Dr Sara Colantonio and Dr Carlotta Caruso and supported by the Italian Ministero della Cultura, the exhibition is timed to boost Melbourne’s winter cultural calendar. It positions the museum as a destination for visitors who want a deep, humanised version of Roman life rather than a static display of marble busts.
Curators have placed intimate objects alongside the expected gladiator armour and imperial images. Small figurines, kitchenware and personal items reveal Romans as relatable people, a detail that reviewers have singled out as the show’s quiet strength. The museum has also programmed a full season of events around the exhibition. On 4 August, a dedicated talk ‘Emperors of Rome’ will dive into the power structures of the empire. Wednesday evenings bring a Roman Marble Mosaic Masterclass, while Il Grande Cinema Series and Brunetti Classico events run throughout the season.
Premium Museum Members receive complimentary unlimited entry, a benefit tied to membership that effectively covers the cost of multiple visits before the exhibition closes on 25 October. Group bookings are open, though the museum advises that phone lines can have long waits; booking online is faster.
Getting to the museum is straightforward on public transport. Tram routes 1, 6 and 96 stop nearby on Swanston Street, and the Carlton Gardens location is a short walk from the city centre. On-site parking is limited, so the museum recommends the tram or nearby street parking. Afterwards, the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens are next door, and Lygon Street’s Italian cafes are a five-minute walk away, making it simple to turn the day into a long cultural afternoon.
ROME: Empire, Power, People runs at Melbourne Museum until 25 October 2026. For Melburnians who spent the early winter scrolling flight deals to Europe, it is the closest thing to a Roman holiday without leaving the postcode, and the first time these two Italian collections have ever been shown together in Australia.
Quick Facts
Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum is a major public museum in Carlton operated by Museums Victoria. It houses extensive collections on natural history, science, Indigenous cultures and social history, and regularly hosts major international exhibitions.