National Etruscan Museum Villa Giulia: is located in Rome on the square of the same name in the former summer residence of the popes. It is one of the most prestigious museums dedicated to the Etruscan civilisation, containing masterpieces of art and artefacts that have become famous all over the world.
Nowadays, the Renaissance architectural and park complex Villa Giulia is rightly considered a temple of Etruscan culture. The two-storey building of austere and elegant forms is surrounded by greenery and space that create a picturesque landscape of gardens and terraces connected by shaped staircases, nymphaea and fountains.
The greatest artists of the time, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Bartolomeo Ammannati, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Giorgio Vasari, were involved in the design of the building.
After its papal glory in the 16th century, Villa Giulia went through a long period of decline, although it remained the property of the Vatican until 1870,
The National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia now has a total of about 6,000 objects distributed in 50 rooms, with an exhibition area of more than 3,000 square metres. It contains a wide variety of exhibits related to the Etruscans – models of ancient cities, terracotta and bronze sculptures, ceramics, tombstones, weapons, jewellery and other artefacts and objects of art.
The collection includes everyday objects, vases, statues and weapons found as a result of excavations of Etruscan necropolises in Lazio and Umbria. Among the masterpieces of Etruscan art are the sarcophagus of the Consorts from Cerveteri and the bronze statue of Apollo from Veio from the 4th century B.C. The section devoted to the virtuoso jewellery of the Etruscan masters of the 7th B.C. is also of great interest.
Museum opening hours: 08.30-19.30
Days off – Monday, December 25. 1 January.
