"Palazzo Massimo presents ancient Roman interiors by using original frescoed interior walls. Removed whole from Roman bed chambers, dining spaces and kitchens, they’ve been hung in rooms of the same proportions. Stepping into Livia’s garden room is like being outdoors – its walls depict such horticultural details that you can almost hear birdsong. Still more intimate is the room-by-room recreation of a villa of the Augustan age. It’s a reminder that ancient Rome was a riot of colour and was often more alien than we imagine."