MUSAS - Museo Storico Archeologico di Santarcangelo

MUSAS, the Historical and Archaeological Museum of Santarcangelo, brings together archaeological finds and works that trace the town's history from prehistory to the nineteenth century. Its collections occupy Palazzo Cenci in the medieval quarter.

Why it matters

The museum connects the history of Santarcangelo with the wider landscape of the Romagna plain. An archaeological route follows evidence of settlement and Roman production, while the historical-artistic route presents medieval and later works in the former palace. Contemporary works incorporated into the displays extend the story beyond the historical collections.

What to notice

The archaeological rooms include prehistoric flint tools, a reconstructed Villanovan tomb and a model of a Roman kiln. Amphorae made in the surrounding area illustrate the region's pottery production and trade. On Palazzo Cenci's noble floor, the displays include Byzantine ceramic tubuli from the church of San Michele, furnishings from the former church of San Francesco, and a sixteen-panel polyptych signed by Jacobello di Bonomo and dated 1385. A room devoted to Pope Clement XIV, born in Santarcangelo as Lorenzo Ganganelli, includes a model of the 1777 triumphal arch by architect Cosimo Morelli.

Context and history

The archaeological collection ranges from prehistoric material to late antiquity, with a focus on Roman settlement and production after the founding of Ariminum in 268 BCE. Palazzo Cenci, in the medieval quarter between the town's early walls, provides the setting for the later historical and artistic collections. The museum is managed by Fo.Cu.S, the Fondazione Culture Santarcangelo, which also operates the town's municipal museum network.