Mayor Walter Veltroni opened the new Museo dell'Ara Pacis on 21 April, the traditional "anniversary of the city of Rome". The building had been designed by Richard Meier to house the Ara Pacis Augustae, an altar of peace erected in 13BC, thus enclosing and protecting one of the most important ancient monuments in the city. It is the first modern building in the historic centre of Rome for many decades and has provoked scores of heated debates.

Many parts of the museum are still under construction and only partly accessible to the public - the final completion is scheduled for autumn 2006.

The lighting concept is based on the ideas of Fisher Marantz Stone, New York, and was realised by ERCO Italy in close cooperation with the architect, Richard Meier.