Scuderie del Quirinale

Built as stables for the popes and later Italy's royal family, this building beside the Quirinal Palace on Rome's highest hill was converted into an exhibition hall and now hosts major touring shows, from Egyptian treasures of the pharaohs to retrospectives of individual masters. Its higher price point and mandatory booking reflect a model closer to a special exhibition venue than a standard museum with a fixed permanent collection. A 4.7 rating and maximum must-see and culture scores show strong consistent satisfaction regardless of which specific exhibition is running, and reviewers frequently mention the Quirinal Palace itself - one of Europe's largest - as a worthwhile sight in its own right nearby. Allow a full two hours given the scale of the shows typically staged here.