Musée d'archéologie d'Aléria Jérôme Carcopino

About the museum

The museum occupies the Fort of Matra, built by the Genoese from the 14th century and with a square tower at the south-east corner. The fort was attacked and looted by Corsican insurgents in 1730. Théodore de Neuhoff, the first and only king of Corsica, landed on the beach at Aléria in 1736. In the 18th century the fort was leased to the Matra family, then came under the control of the army and customs.

The fort was listed as a historic monument in 1962, and an archaeological depot was set up there in 1963. It has borne the name of the historian Jérôme Carcopino since 1969. The museum has been based there since 1978, and the Haute-Corse department acquired the building in 1979.

The first floor presents about fifteen centuries of history, from protohistory to the end of the Roman Empire. The display cases show objects from the excavations of the Roman colony of Aléria and its necropolises. The collection helps to understand prehistoric and ancient Corsica, as well as the civilisations of the Mediterranean.

The museum and the neighbouring ancient site share a combined ticket. The site was extensively excavated between 1955 and 1960; Roman presence there is attested from the end of the 3rd century BC.

Highlights

• Genoese Fort of Matra, a historic monument since 1962
• Objects from the excavations of the Roman colony of Aléria
• Furnishings from the ancient necropolises
• Fifteen centuries of history, from protohistory to the end of the Roman Empire
• Combined ticket with the Aléria archaeological site

Permanent exhibition

• Collections archéologiques d'Aléria – The first floor presents about fifteen centuries of history, from protohistory to the end of the Roman Empire, with objects from the excavations of the Roman colony and its necropolises.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Collectivité de Corse

Director

Laurence Jehasse

Visitors per year

approx. 59,026

Admission & discounts

The ticket is shared by the museum and the archaeological site and is bought at the museum. A common price list for all sites and museums of the Collectivité de Corse is available on the official website.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

A reduced family rate of €3 is offered, and admission is free for children under 10.

Getting there & parking

The Fort of Matra is in Aléria, on the east coast. Distances given by the official site: Bastia 72 km, Corte 48 km, Bonifacio 100 km.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A counter sells postcards and a guide to the museum and the archaeological site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.