If asked to consider the words ‘art’ and ‘Italy’, chances are the first things that come to mind would be the David, Botticelli’s Venus, and the Duomo—all relics of the Renaissance.

But that could be set to change, thanks to the opening last week of the MAXXI gallery, Italy’s first museum devoted to contemporary art and architecture.

The all-caps name stands for Museum of Art of the 21st Century (get it? XXI century?). More than a decade in development, with a final bill of £138 million, critics say the museum will dramatically alter Rome’s cultural map.

Super-starchitect Zaha Hadid, Iraqi-born and London-based, designed the MAXXI, bringing as much attention to the building itself as the art displayed within. The building itself, constructed on the site of the former Montello military barracks, makes use of sweeping forms of concrete, glass and steel. A cantilevered top gallery resembles a figurehead at the prow of a ship, forward-moving and alert.

Inside, Hadid’s characteristic ribbon shapes continue, bringing a sense of urgeny to the building. And the art — there’s work by Anish Kapoor, Gerhard Richter and William Kentridge. But there’s a lot of blank space, too. After all, there’s another 90 years to fill the halls.

The MAXXI opened to so much public interest that a scheme offering free admission had to be closed after 50,000 would-be museum-gowers applied for entry, overwhelming the online ticketing system.

Guess we’ll just have to join the queue…

Images courtesy of Fondazione MAXXI