Museo Archeologico di Murlo (Antiquarium di Poggio Civitate)

The Archaeological Museum of Murlo occupies the former Bishop's Palace in Vescovado di Murlo. It presents finds from the Etruscan settlement at Poggio Civitate, including terracotta roof sculptures that illuminate the architecture and elite culture of ancient Etruria.

Why it matters

Excavations at Poggio Civitate began in 1966 and revealed a sequence of monumental buildings. The discoveries have made the site a major source for understanding Etruscan architecture and society in the seventh and sixth centuries BC.

What to notice

Terracotta plaques from the palace roof show banquets, processions, assemblies and horse races. A distinctive seated figure with a broad, pointed hat, known as the Cappellone, serves as the museum's emblem. Displays also include roof decorations, ceramics and objects of bronze, ivory and bone from the palace and nearby necropolises.

Context and history

The earliest palace phase dates to around 700 BC and included an early terracotta-tiled roof. A later monumental complex was destroyed by fire around 600 BC; a subsequent archaic building was dismantled in the mid-sixth century BC. The excavations continue under the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The museum is housed in the medieval Palazzo Vescovile, reflecting Murlo's later history as a feudal seat of the bishops of Siena.