MAFRA – Museo Archeologico di Francavilla di Sicilia
Archaeological museum in Palazzo Cagnone with finds from the Greek city of Francavilla, the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore and the necropolis.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
MAFRA opened in October 2020 in Palazzo Cagnone, a sixteenth-century building in the medieval quarter at the foot of the Norman castle, which also houses the civic library. It holds material from the excavations carried out in the territory of Francavilla di Sicilia since 1979, and it replaced the old Antiquarium di Via Liguria, set up in 2007 in a former school building and closed at the beginning of 2020, when the collection was moved.
The museum is run by the Parco archeologico di Naxos e Taormina in collaboration with the Comune. The route occupies the first floor of the palace and is divided into four rooms: the first is an introduction to the Alcantara Valley with some finds from a possible Sicel settlement of the late Bronze Age; the second is dedicated to the Greek city, with architectural terracottas, loom weights, lamps, vases and coins; the third displays the votive deposits of the suburban sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone, with female busts and relief pinakes, and the grave goods of a 5th-century BC necropolis with red-figure Attic pottery; the fourth is an immersive room offering a virtual journey through ancient Francavilla.
The Greek city was founded by Chalcidian colonists from Naxos around the beginning of the 7th century BC on an earlier indigenous settlement, and was finally abandoned in the second half of the 3rd century BC.
Highlights
- Finds from the Sicel settlement of the late Bronze Age
- Architectural terracottas, lamps and coins from the Greek city
- Votive deposits from the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore, with female busts and pinakes
- Red-figure Attic pottery from the 5th-century BC necropolis
- Immersive room on ancient Francavilla
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso espositivo del MAFRA – Four rooms on the first floor of Palazzo Cagnone, from the prehistory of the Alcantara Valley to the Greek city, the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore and the immersive room.
- Founded
- 2020
- Operated by
- Parco archeologico di Naxos e Taormina (Regione Siciliana)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
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| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under 18s; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. |
The €6 ticket is valid for the MAFRA museum and the Francavilla archaeological area; the website of the Parco does not indicate a reduced rate. Free admission, among others, for students and teaching staff of faculties or corresponding courses of the European Union, permanent and temporary teaching staff, registered journalists and ICCROM members (under regional rules).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to people with disabilities through the conference hall of the palace.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The route includes a short introductory video at the entrance and an immersive room. For information and bookings, you can contact the URP (public relations office) of the Parco archeologico di Naxos e Taormina. |
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