Museo archeologico del territorio di Populonia

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Palazzo Nuovo, built in 1807 to a design by the architect Gabrielli as part of the imperial palaces of Napoleonic Piombino of the princes Felice and Elisa Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister: the court occupied the upper floors, while servants and workers were housed on the ground floor, over a surface of about 1,800 square metres. After the demolition of a school pavilion that occupied part of Piazza Cittadella, the restoration recovered the original features of the building and the value of the fortified Cittadella, which developed at the end of the 15th century with the Appiani complex.

The collection consists mainly of material found in the territory of ancient Populonia between the 19th and 20th centuries, and to a small extent of objects acquired from private collections, confiscations and donations. The most important core, including the silver amphora from Baratti, was kept in the storerooms of the Museo Archeologico di Firenze and reached Piombino in 2001 for its first display. The museum is regarded as constantly evolving and as a point of reference for the archaeological research still under way in the area of the ancient city.

The route spreads over three floors, from the Palaeolithic to Late Antiquity, with an emphasis on Etruscans and Romans, full-scale reconstructions of ancient landscapes and environments, multimedia and musical routes and videos. In addition to the 2,000 prehistoric, Etruscan and Roman finds, the mosaic with a sea scene from the Logge di Populonia and material from the necropolises are on display. The museum naturally completes a visit to the Parco archeologico di Baratti e Populonia.

Highlights

• Silver amphora from Baratti, symbol of the museum
• Over 2,000 prehistoric, Etruscan and Roman finds
• Mosaic with a sea scene from the Logge di Populonia
• Full-scale reconstructions of ancient landscapes and environments
• Multimedia and musical routes across three floors
• Palazzo Nuovo of the Napoleonic period in the Cittadella

Permanent exhibition

• Il territorio di Populonia dalla preistoria alla tarda antichità – Over 2,000 prehistoric, Etruscan and Roman finds across three floors, with reconstructions of ancient landscapes and the silver amphora from Baratti.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Parchi Val di Cornia (Comune di Piombino)

Visitors per year

approx. 6,019

Admission & discounts

Prices in force since 2 May 2023. Tickets can be bought online on ticketlandia.com up to the day before the visit. Discount for Coop members and holders of Autolinee Toscane season tickets; special rates and free admissions according to the service charter.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 has a car park reserved for people with disabilities, reached from Via Leporatti by taking the unpaved road on the left at the height of the cat colony. Displays, reconstructions and multimedia routes are designed to make the visit accessible to everyone.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family ticket for €18 for two adults and three children; Italian audio guide for children and family-friendly activities offered by the Parchi della Val di Cornia.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Piazza Cittadella, in the historic centre of Piombino.

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