Museo Civico Archeologico di Fiesole

Fiesole's Civic Archaeological Museum brings together material from the ancient hilltown and antiquarian collections assembled by later collectors. Its holdings range from Villanovan ceramics and Etruscan funerary monuments to Roman finds and Lombard grave goods.

Why it matters

The museum complements the adjacent archaeological area. Objects from the theatre, sanctuary and settlement give material detail to the monuments, while collected antiquities place local archaeology within a broader Mediterranean setting.

What to notice

The topographic collections include Fiesole's characteristic funerary steles, votive bronzes and objects recovered from the Roman monuments. Lombard burials are represented with their grave goods. Excavated structures incorporated into the museum add another layer to the display.

The antiquarian holdings include Greek, Magna Graecian and Etruscan pottery from the Costantini collection, material from the Società Colombaria, and sculptures and cinerary urns from the Albites collection.

Context and history

Founded in 1878, the civic museum was first housed in the town hall. It moved to its purpose-built home in 1914. Archaeological discoveries, donations and deposits subsequently enlarged the collections. The distinction between excavated local material and antiquarian holdings remains important to understanding how this museum was formed.