Civic Archaeological Museum

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna, located in the Palazzo Galvani, is one of the most important museum institutions in Italy for the richness of its collections. Inaugurated in 1881, the museum is the result of the merger of various archaeological collections from the city, including those from the University of Bologna and the Bolognini family. Its history reflects the passion for antiquity that has characterized Bologna since the Renaissance. The structure of the museum, housed in an elegant eighteenth-century building, is itself a work of art. The palace, originally the seat of the Hospital of Death, was transformed into a museum with architectural interventions that enhanced its interior spaces, creating an environment suitable for the preservation and exhibition of collections. Among the most important sections of the museum stands out the Etruscan collection, one of the most complete and significant in the world. Bologna, ancient Felsina, was one of the main centers of Etruscan civilization, and the museum preserves a wide range of artifacts that testify to the richness and complexity of this culture. Among the most relevant pieces are the Stele of Bologna, a stone relief dating back to the 6th century BC, and the famous Sarcophagus of the Amazons, decorated with vibrant polychrome paintings. The section dedicated to ancient Egypt is another gem of the museum, with over 3,500 objects covering a time span of more than three thousand years. Among the most fascinating artifacts are the mummy of Usai, a priest of Amun, and the funerary equipment of Queen Meryt, which offers a glimpse into the daily life and religious beliefs of ancient Egypt. The Egyptian collection of the Civic Archaeological Museum is the second most important in Italy after that of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The museum’s exhibition path also includes a rich collection of artifacts from Roman civilization. Bologna, founded as a Roman colony under the name of Bononia in 189 BC, was an important commercial and cultural crossroads in northern Italy. Among the Roman artifacts preserved in the museum, one can admire mosaics, statues, ceramics, and coins, illustrating the daily life, religion, and art of the time. Particularly significant is the floor mosaic of the Domus del Chirurgo, discovered in the 1980s in Piazza Ferrari, depicting scenes of hunting and domestic life. The section dedicated to prehistory and protohistory is equally fascinating, with artifacts ranging from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. Among the most interesting pieces are the remains of the Man of Villanova, dating back to the 9th century BC, and numerous objects in bronze, ceramics, and bone that testify to the evolution of craft techniques and social structures of the early human communities. The museum also houses a rich numismatic collection, with coins ranging from antiquity to modern times. This collection, one of the most complete in Italy, offers a valuable tool for studying the economy, trade, and politics of different historical periods.