Can you help me identify (name/location) a small but exquisite museum which is in the area of Santa Maria Maggiore. Near the area where book and other stalls are set up along the street. Wonderful archeological pieces, large marble, etc. (Not the museum at the Baths; this one looks to me like a former Palazzo.)<BR>Thanks in advance.

Maybe you mean PALAZZO MASSIMO, situated near Termini Central Station, between the station and Piazza della Repubblica and near the some book stalls under bushy trees that in the evening are filled with noisy birds. I guess it is this and if you are wondering what is inside it, I tell ya!: ancient roman coins, sculptures and most of all some impressive frescos from an ancient roman villa.

Dear Battuffolina: thank you much. That's it. I have been inside and thought it was a wonderful, manageable-size museum. Wanted to suggest it to friends who are going to Rome next week (lucky people) and didn't want to go with: &quot;stand in front of the central train station .... on your right and down a block or two blocks....etc.&quot;

Also mention to your friends that the top floor can only be visited by the museum's tour. The time will be stamped on their tickets and the meeting place is by the ticket window.<BR>Batuffolina: Those birds, I was walking by that area just after sunset once and great masses of them were swarming overhead. It was very surreal like a dark fast moving swirling cloud. Regards, Walter

Hahahah! Paradise lost: yes the area around Termini Station and Piazza della Repubblica at dusk becomes surreal and pretty like an Hitchcock's movie (Birds). I found myself one late afternoon in that area, and the experience was not nice at all. Then there came come guys clad in yellow raincoats from the roman city hall who started to use those kinds of air-guns that scared the birds with the only result of much more mess than ever! Therefore I warmly recommend to stay away from that area at dusk (you can hear from the shrieks of thousands of birds when they gather in the treees for the night).

Don't think I will mention the birds.....