The museum exhibits the marble fragments superimposed on the Nolli's Forma Urbis Romae (1748 CE), a monumental cartographic work that attempted to map ancient Rome using archaeological and literary evidence. It stands as one of the most significant cartographic endeavors to document and reconstruct the ancient city of Rome.

The museum is situated within the Parco Archeologico del Celio, in close proximity to the Colosseum, and is housed in the historic building of the former Palestra della Gioventù Italiana del Littorio. The establishment of this museum offers scholars and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with one of antiquity's most significant cartographic artifacts, shedding light on the architectural and urban planning intricacies of ancient Rome.

circa 203-211 CE

Forma Urbis Romae
The Forma Urbis Romae, often referred to as the Severan Marble Plan, is one of the most remarkable artifacts from antiquity that provides a detailed representation of the city of Rome in the early 3rd century CE. Commissioned under Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211 CE), the map was intricately carved on approximately 150 marble slabs, collectively measuring an impressive 18 meters wide and 13 meters high. Mounted on an interior wall of the Templum Pacis, a public library in the Forum of Vespasian, the Forma Urbis served as a comprehensive architectural and urban record of the city. The map depicted every architectural feature in the city, ranging from grand imperial monuments to modest residential structures, streets, and even internal courtyards. Rendered at a scale of roughly 1:240, the map is particularly notable for its precision, detailing individual rooms, staircases, and porticoes with remarkable accuracy.

Despite its fragmented survival—only about 10% of the original slabs are extant—the Forma Urbis remains an invaluable source for understanding the urban topography of ancient Rome. Its surviving fragments have provided critical insights into the locations and dimensions of long-lost structures, such as temples, baths, and insulae, and have illuminated the spatial relationships between various districts of the city. The map also exemplifies advanced Roman cartographic and drafting techniques, reflecting the technical expertise and administrative sophistication of the era. The Forma Urbis was not merely an artistic endeavor but a practical and political instrument, symbolizing imperial authority and control over the vast and complex urban environment of Rome. Today, its study continues to advance archaeological and historical scholarship, with digital reconstructions and modern technologies aiding efforts to piece together its fragmented legacy.