28 May 2010 / AP, ROME
A huge museum for contemporary arts and architecture opens its doors in Rome this weekend in a bid to draw avant-garde art lovers to a city defined by its ancient monuments and Baroque fountains.
The Maxxi museum, designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, is the latest and most ambitious project to try to refresh the Italian capital’s image of a decadent city bent on its glorious past. The museum marks its opening with a three-day celebration that includes the unveiling on Thursday of inaugural exhibits and an invitation-only VIP party. Maxxi opens to the public on Sunday. The 150 million euro ($223 million) Maxxi is made of cement walls, steel stairs and a glass roof. It is located in a residential neighborhood outside the eternal city’s historic center.