Museums in ROME
Italian Museums
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Etruscan National Museum of Villa Giulia
Hotels Etruscan National Museum of Villa Giulia
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ROME Piazzale di Villa Giulia, 9 |
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Opening time: Tues. to Sat. 9-19, Sun. 9-14 • closed Mon.
Admission charge: € 4,00 public property Villa Giulia was built for pope Julius III between 1550 and 1555, and many of the most immportant architects, painters and decorators of the period, from Vasari to Vignola and Ammannati contributed to its execution. After the pope's death the villa was inherited by his brother and later confiscated by Paul IV in 1557; destined to be residence of illustrious guests and modified many times during the 17th and 18th century, Villa Giulia officially became a museum in the early 20th century. THE MUSEUM'S SECTIONS The museum is divided into various sections and contains various material from the most important Etruscan towns and necropolises: bronze artefacts and stone sculptures from Veio; a polychrome terracotta decoration from the Sanctuary of Portonaccio, near Veio, also including the famous statue of Apollo. The sectiond dedicated to Cerveteri, one of the most important Etruscan towns, houses the famous Sarcofago degli Sposi (Husband and Wife's Sarcophagus), while the one devoted to Palestrina includes various objects with Eastern influences. The Castellani collection, currently closed to the public, is famous for its jewels and gold-works, which provide an invaluable contribution to the study of ancient goldsmithery. The Chariot from Castro, found in a tomb along with the horses' skeletons, is a unique piece of Etruscan art. THE HISTORY Villla Giulia Museum was originally destined to house pre-Roman antiquities from Latium. Following the several excavation campaigns in Vulci, Cerveteri, Veio and Faleri, a large number of finds started to be housed in the museum, and the Barberini, Castellani and Pesciotti Collections were purchased. Today, Villa Giulia is the most representative Etruscan museum in Italy. |
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