Museo Archeologico del Finale

About the museum

The founding of the museum is linked to the extraordinary archaeological wealth of the Finale area, a territory of caves and rock shelters that preserves traces of human presence for over 350,000 years. From the second half of the 19th century, with research at the Grotta delle Fate and the Grotta Pollera, a body of finds accumulated that made a dedicated centre necessary: in 1931 the Civico Museo del Finale was founded, directed by Andrea Silla.

The permanent seat is the convent complex of Santa Caterina at Finalborgo, founded in 1359 by the Del Carretto marquises and used as a prison between 1865 and 1965. After restoration, the museum was re-arranged and opened between 1976 and 1977 under the direction of Oscar Giuggiola. Today the museum, owned by the municipality, is run by the Sezione Finalese of the Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri.

The route unfolds across ten rooms: the territory, the Palaeolithic, the Mesolithic and the Neolithic, the metal ages, the Roman period, the Middle Ages of the Del Carretto family and the numismatic collections, including the collection of Giovanni Andrea Silla with over 1,600 coins.

Highlights

• Reconstruction of the tomb of the “Giovane Principe” from the Arene Candide, 28,000 years old
• Palaeolithic stone industry with bifaces and Neanderthal tools
• Rooms on the Neolithic and the metal ages
• Giovanni Andrea Silla numismatic collection with over 1,600 coins
• Santa Caterina bell tower, open on Sunday mornings

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso espositivo permanente – Ten rooms from the Finale area through the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, metal ages, Roman period, Middle Ages and numismatic collections.

Founded

1931

Operated by

Comune di Finale Ligure (proprietà); gestione: Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri – Sezione Finalese

Visitors per year

approx. 12,913

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers access to all sections of the museum. Free admission also for tourist guides and ICOM members. Payment in cash, by credit card or by debit card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All rooms are barrier-free; the lift to access the museum is in the second cloister and has a video intercom. Touch screens and tactile and smell stations are at an accessible height. For the visit there are a sensory map, a preparatory social story, a guide in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), videos in LIS and an audio guide with an accessible route. Disabled parking spaces are in the Municipio car park, a few steps from the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In summer, family workshops (“days” as a Palaeolithic hunter, a Neolithic villager, an ancient Ligurian and a Roman), guided themed visits by reservation and an audio guide route for children with the Giovane Principe as protagonist. Educational panels, reconstructions and multimedia stations make the visit lively.

Getting there & parking

By car: A10 motorway Genoa–Ventimiglia, Finale Ligure exit, then signs for Finalborgo and for the Chiostri di Santa Caterina. Access by car to the historic village is restricted.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop with books, games and archaeological reproductions.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit