Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna hosts a rich collection of historic and artistic findings that attract tourists and enthusiasts every day, from all over the world.

Located in via dell’Archiginnasio, inside Palazzo Galvani, the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna was founded in the second half of the 19th century as result of the union between the University museum and the Municipal museum.
In addition to be one of the main collection centres of archaeological objects in the region, the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna hosts one of the most important and significant collections of ancient Egyptian and Roman findings in Europe, and has been the location of prestigious art shows and exhibitions in the last decades.

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna: history.
One of the first stages of the display itinerary of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna allows viewing findings dating back to the Palaeolithic: tips, scrapers and many other tools in phthanite and flint are only some of the numerous pre-historic testimonies.
The section also includes a remarkable quantity of findings dating back to the Bronze Age, like ceramic objects and tools in metal or bone, able to charm any enthusiast.

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna: the Greek period.
The Greek hall of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna includes an extensive collection of ceramics from Attica and precious jewellery that bear witness to the craft skill of ancient Greece.
Most of the marble findings are the result of Roman re-elaborations of Greek original objects: among those, the head of Athena Lemnia stands out, inspired by the bronze statue made by Phidias in the 5th century B.C. and then reproduced in the Roman age.

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna: Etrurian art.
By walking further in the various areas of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna, you will come across a section specifically dedicated to Etrurian findings.
This is a particularly interesting museum section for the reconstruction of Felzna, the settlement on which Bologna was erected from its ashes, and therefore the original centre.
Among the pieces displayed in the Etrurian section of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna, there are numerous funeral gifts, daily tools, bronze tools and vases in ceramic and bronze which were essential over time, to trace back the customs and habits of the civilization that settled in the region in the 8th century B.C.
The findings coming from Giardini Margherita necropolis are particularly suggestive, including luxury objects, Greek vases intended for wine consumption and bronze containers depicting scenes of the civil, religious and military life.

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna: the Roman age.
Once of the richest and most charming sections of the entire structure is certainly the collection of findings dating back to the Roman age of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna, which is source of attraction for visitors and enthusiasts all over the world.
The collection of Roman findings includes glass vases, bronze statues and domestic tools like keys, scales, needles, bells and spoons.
Decorated early-Christian ivory objects and the marble sculptures that include statues, reliefs and public and private paintings, are particularly prestigious.

The Collection of Ancient Stone Tables of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna.
A particular section of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna is entirely dedicated to the tombstones of Roman age found in the city of Bologna and provinces, dating back to the 1st and 2nd century B.C.
The statue with armour depicting Emperor Nero shall be mentioned, found during the Renaissance in Piazza de’ Celestini, once seat of the city Roman theatre.

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna: the Egyptian section.
Among the most important in Europe, Egyptian collections of the Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna includes over 3500 objects, among which steles, sarcophagi and statues thanks to which it is possible to trace about three thousand years of history.
The display itinerary proposed by the museum follows a specific chronological order starting from the Ancient Kingdom and ending in Ptolemaic age; moreover, there are numerous findings concerning themes of interest like funerary objects and writing.