From 26 December to 6 January 2009, Rome's museums will not only be displaying figurative art, but will also play host to a series of other art forms, including music, dance, poetry and theatre.

This new cultural project has been named "Musei in Festa" and will see many of the capital's most important public museums staging live events.

The Mercati di Traiano will host a traditional Christmas concert (26 December) and Palazzo Braschi will resound to the waltzes of Johann Strauss (5-6 January). The Napoleonico museum will stage the play "Napoleone a Sant'Elena" (3-6 January), while at the Museo di Roma in Trastevere you can enjoy poetry and songs in Roman dialect written by Trilussa and Belli (29 December). "Odysseus", a dance-opera based on Homer's epic poem, will be presented at the Musei Capitolini (5-6 January).

A calendar of dates centred on games and learning has also been specially created to try to bring children closer to culture: these includes discovering comets at the Planetarium (26, 28 & 29 December) and the hunt for the stocking at the Zoological museum on the night of the Epiphany (5 January).

In addition to these shows, for the first time ever, the public museums' doors will remain open on Mondays during the festive period (29 December and 5 January).

Many of the events are free, but for more information or to book tickets, call 060608 or visit