Archaeological Museum of Milan

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Milan, located at Corso Magenta 15, is one of the most fascinating cultural places in the city, housed in the former convent of the Monastero Maggiore di San Maurizio. This museum offers a journey through the ancient history of Milan and the civilizations that have influenced the region, combining a rich collection of archaeological finds with splendid historical architecture. Founded in 1862, the museum has roots dating back to the Brera Academy and its initial archaeological collection. Over time, the museum’s collections have expanded thanks to donations, bequests, and acquisitions from the State and the Lombardy Region. Today, the Civic Archaeological Museum houses artifacts from various civilizations, including Roman, Greek, Etruscan, and medieval, as well as evidence of barbarian civilizations and Gandhara. One of the most impressive elements of the museum is its architectural structure. The Monastero Maggiore, founded in the 8th century, still preserves significant traces of Roman Milan, visible in the remains of the circus and the city walls found in the inner cloister. This allows visitors to immerse themselves in a unique historical environment, where archaeological finds are displayed in a context that further enhances their significance. The Roman section of the museum is particularly rich, with artifacts illustrating the daily life and architecture of ancient Milan, known as Mediolanum. Among the most important pieces are the two Roman towers and the remains of a Roman house from the 1st century AD. These artifacts offer a detailed glimpse into urban life and defensive structures of the city during the Roman Empire. The Gandhara art collection, located on the lower floor of the main building, is another highlight of the museum. This section features valuable works, such as Buddha statue-steles and monk figures, which testify to the influence of Greek art on Buddhist sculpture. The Gandhara collection is particularly relevant for understanding the cultural contacts between the Western and Eastern worlds during antiquity. In the visit itinerary, Etruscan and Greek artifacts offer a glimpse into the civilizations that preceded the Roman era, while the early medieval section illustrates the transition from late Roman times to the early Middle Ages through objects of Gothic and Lombard tradition. This variety of collections makes the museum an ideal place to understand the historical and cultural evolution of the region. The section dedicated to Caesarea Maritima, located in the building on via Nirone, exhibits a significant nucleus of artifacts from the area of the Roman theater of Caesarea Maritima in Israel. These artifacts, unearthed during excavations conducted in the early 1960s by the Italian mission, offer a unique perspective on the Roman presence in the Middle East.