Museo archeologico nazionale di Egnazia “Giuseppe Andreassi”

The National Archaeological Museum of Egnazia stands outside the walls of ancient Gnathia, in the area of its Messapic necropolis. Named for Giuseppe Andreassi, it presents the long history of the settlement and its surrounding territory.

Why it matters

The collections connect the excavated city with the objects through which its communities can be understood. Their chronological span extends from the Bronze Age into the Middle Ages, placing Messapic, Roman and early Christian Egnazia within a much longer history.

What to notice

Funerary material gives particular prominence to the Messapic period. The painted Tomba delle Melagrane is an important example of chamber-tomb decoration. Imported Mycenaean ceramics from a tomb at Torre Santa Sabina illuminate wider Adriatic connections, while terracotta figures and images of deities provide different perspectives on ritual and belief.

Context and history

The museum's setting links its interpretation with the ancient burial landscape outside the city. Its dedication honours the archaeologist Giuseppe Andreassi, who directed the museum and archaeological area from 1976 to 1985. The collections complement the remains of the neighbouring archaeological park without reducing the site's history to its Roman phase.