Museo archeologico all’aperto “Alberto Manzi”
Open-air museum near Pitigliano with a reconstruction of the “city of the living” and the Etruscan necropolises of Gradone and San Giovanni.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The open-air archaeological museum of Pitigliano is named after Alberto Manzi, a teacher and writer. It was founded for educational purposes and to protect the environmental heritage and the Etruscan funerary monuments, which were exposed to looting by illegal excavations, while promoting the natural landscape and the history of the place.
The route is divided into two areas linked by a via cava, a sunken road cut into the Etruscan-age tuff. In the “city of the living” two buildings have been reconstructed: a round hut from the Final Bronze Age and an archaic Etruscan house with several rooms and a portico. Descending along the via cava del Gradone, you reach the “city of the dead”, with the Gradone necropolis, made up of chamber tombs in use from the second half of the 7th century BC, and a demonstration tomb where the burial of an imaginary couple with its grave goods is displayed.
The path continues to the Meleta stream and the necropolis of San Giovanni, with chamber tombs cut into the tuff, dating from the 6th to the 3rd century BC. The reception centre at the entrance houses the ticket office, a bookshop and a refreshment point. The museum also offers evening openings, performances and workshops for groups, families and schools.
Highlights
- Reconstruction of the Bronze Age hut and the Etruscan house
- Gradone sunken road cut into the tuff
- Gradone Etruscan necropolis with chamber tombs
- Demonstration tomb with the burial of Velthur and Larthia
- San Giovanni necropolis with monumental tombs
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso della “città dei vivi” e della “città dei morti” – Open-air route with reconstructions of prehistoric and Etruscan dwellings and visits to the Gradone and San Giovanni necropolises.
- Founded
- 2004
- Operated by
- Comune di Pitigliano
- Director
- Debora Rossi
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2 |
| Combined ticket with the Museo archeologico della Civiltà Etrusca (standard) | €6Reduced €3. |
Prices taken from Museionline and tourist portals; a combined ticket is available with the archaeological museum of Palazzo Orsini (€6 standard, €3 reduced).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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
According to the Musei di Maremma and ISPRA, the route is not accessible to people with mobility impairments (paths and steps cut into the tuff).
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Large museum car park at the entrance, next to the reception centre.
From the Strada Regionale 74 Maremmana, heading towards Manciano, turn left onto the Strada Provinciale 127 Pantano; after a few metres you reach the car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Reception centre with ticket office, bookshop and refreshment point by the car park.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided visits are possible; the museum also organises evening openings, theatre and music performances and workshops for groups, families and schools. |
