Museo etrusco di Populonia Collezione Gasparri
Small archaeological museum in the former olive press of Populonia Castle, with Etruscan finds from the Gasparri family collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Etruscan Museum of Populonia was opened in 1943 at the wish of Giulia and Tommaso Gasparri and holds the archaeological finds from the family's private collection. The family owned the land at Baratti and Populonia, where Etruscan necropolises were uncovered in the first half of the 20th century. It is considered the oldest museum institution in the Val di Cornia.
The first nucleus consists of finds that the Superintendency of Etruscan Antiquities assigned to the family as a finder's reward, equal to a quarter of the value of the discoveries. In the 1950s and 1960s the collection grew with material from official excavations of the necropolises and objects found in the fields and at sea off Baratti. In 1985, for the Year of the Etruscans, the museum was renewed, and in 1988 it moved to the former olive press of the Populonia Castle, where it is still located.
The short exhibition route includes Etruscan grave goods and a section on the transformation of Baratti from seaside resort to cultural tourism, with finds from the excavations in the Villini area, as well as the Sala del Mare, dedicated to Populonia's links with the ancient Mediterranean. From the windows you can see the landscape the collection comes from. The museum is run by the Past in Progress group.
Highlights
- Oldest museum in the Val di Cornia, opened in 1943
- Etruscan grave goods, sarcophagi, cippi and an “alla cappuccina” tomb
- Sala del Mare on trade in the ancient Mediterranean
- Stone and lead anchors, Etruscan and Roman amphorae and a large dolium
- Finds from the works in the Gulf of Baratti
- Panoramic view over the territory the collection comes from
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso permanente del museo – Etruscan grave goods, finds from the Gulf of Baratti and the Villini area, and the Sala del Mare dedicated to Populonia and the ancient Mediterranean.
- Founded
- 1943
- Operated by
- Past in Progress S.r.l. (gruppo Past Experience)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 38,286
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Children aged 6 to 11, over 65s and residents of the municipalities of Piombino, San Vincenzo, Campiglia Marittima, Suvereto and Sassetta |
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 5 · Free admission from 0 to 5 years; reduced ticket from 6 to 11 years. |
| Seniors | €2.50Reduced rate for over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Families | €8 |
| Combined ticket museum + Torre medievale and Rocca degli Appiani – full price | €5 |
| Combined ticket museum + Torre medievale and Rocca degli Appiani – reduced | €4Same reductions as the museum ticket. |
| Combined ticket museum + Torre medievale and Rocca degli Appiani – families | €14 |
Tickets can also be bought online. To visit the museum for study purposes, please contact the management.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The Past in Progress group organises guided tours and experiential educational programmes for schools; information and bookings at +39 0565 1766345. |
