Discover the Etruscans

The Civic Archaeological Museum

A journey through Etruscan Bologna can only begin at the Civic Archaeological Museum, in the heart of the historic centre. Its collections trace the city’s development from the Villanovan period, dating from the 9th century BC, through to the arrival of the Celts in the 4th century BC and on to the Roman era. Among the most fascinating artefacts are funerary urns, vases, bronze objects and decorated stelae. Don’t miss the famous Situla della Certosa, a bronze vessel used as a precious cinerary urn in a woman’s tomb, decorated with scenes of daily life, hunting and a sequence of real and mythical animals.

Why visit: it offers the most comprehensive overview of Etruscan Bologna and allows you to admire some of its most precious artefacts.

➝ Address: Via dell’Archiginnasio 2, Bologna

The Margherita Gardens

Even one of the parks most loved and frequented by the people of Bologna harbours an ancient past. During the construction of the Margherita Gardens in the late nineteenth century, over 230 Etruscan tombs were discovered. The finds included vases, personal items and bronze vessels used during funeral rites. As you stroll through the park, you can still see a genuine stone sarcophagus and a reconstruction of a Villanovan hut, reminders of the people who inhabited the area almost three thousand years ago.

Why visit: it allows you to combine a stroll through the greenery with the discovery of archaeological traces hidden within the city.

➝ Address: Viale Giovanni Gozzadini, Bologna

via bibliotecasalaborsa.it

The Museum of Villanovan Civilisation in Castenaso

Just a few kilometres from the town centre lies the MUV – Museum of Villanovan Civilisation in Castenaso. It was in the nearby hamlet of Villanova, starting in 1853, that Count Giovanni Gozzadini discovered traces of a previously unknown culture, to which he gave its name. The museum displays artefacts from the excavations at Marano di Castenaso and recounts the earliest phase of Etruscan civilisation, which flourished between the 9th and 7th centuries BC, through an evocative, multimedia exhibition that combines archaeology with the history of the local area. A hut has also been reconstructed in the garden to illustrate daily life at that time.

Why visit: it helps visitors learn about the earliest origins of Etruscan civilisation through artefacts, reconstructions and an exhibition suitable for all ages.

➝ Address: Piazza Raffaele Bassi 1, Castenaso

The Fantini Archaeological Museum in Monterenzio and Monte Bibele Park

The Luigi Fantini Archaeological Museum recounts the encounter between the Celts and the Etruscans through weapons, burials and artefacts unearthed in the Idice Valley. The exhibition also features tactile reproductions, a reconstructed hut and a rare sundial. The visit then continues to the archaeological site of Monte Bibele, which can be reached via a short walk through the woods, amongst the remains of the ancient fortified village.

Why visit: it combines an interactive archaeological tour with a walk through the natural beauty of the Apennines.

➝ Address: Via del Museo 2, Monterenzio