Some of the more astonishing works can be found in the 15th century Palazzo Venezia, famous for its balcony where fascist leader Benito Mussolini once harangued crowds gathered below.
The Palazzo now hosts through Saturday a collection that includes a couple of skeletons making love on the floor and a glass ball encasing a pope surrounded by nude creatures.
Works of American photographer David LaChapelle, including one depicting a wall of bloody hearts, are also on display along with those of other artists.
For its part, the Tempio di Adriano showcases life-size statues of women in ceramic, leather and studded metal while the Palazzo delle Esposizioni offer portraits of Hitler spitting on both a swastika and a Christian cross.
A total of seven historic attractions are hosting the show, which organisers describe as a meeting between the city's ancient heritage and contemporary trends.
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