Italy has often been described as a cultural superpower and for good reason—it has more Unesco World Heritage Sites than any other country, and is home to the Uffizi Galleries and Vatican Museums, repositories of some of the world’s most spectacular art. But it has many lesser-known, exceptional museums, where you can can take in a broad range of masterpieces and often do so without the crowds. Here are nine places to consider for your next trip.

PALAZZO QUIRINALE. Larger than Windsor Castle and Versailles, the Palazzo Quirinale, one of the president of Italy’s official residences, is hardly an obscure spot in Rome, but until 2015, visits were restricted to Sundays, so it didn’t make the to-see list for many travelers. The Quirinale, now open five days a week, has long been a seat of power, home to numerous popes (and the site of four papal enclaves), and later the residence of Italian kings.