Museo archeologico dell'alto Mantovano

About the museum

The museum grew out of the work of the Gruppo Archeologico Cavriana, founded in 1964–65 by Leonildo Grazioli with the aim of recovering the finds that surfaced during the agricultural revival after the war. In 1966 the archaeological superintendent for Lombardy, Mario Mirabella Roberti, recognised the group and entrusted its scientific direction to Adalberto Piccoli.

In the following decades research identified more than 60 archaeological sites in the nine municipalities of the Alto Mantovano, including the excavations of the pile-dwelling sites of Bande di Cavriana and Castellaro Lagusello, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011, three Neolithic sites, nine Roman rustic villas, a votive aedicule and two necropolises.

The first antiquarium (site museum) opened in 1969, and in 1983 the Museo archeologico dell'Alto Mantovano was inaugurated, now displayed in Villa Mirra, in Piazza Castello. The route unfolds over 13 rooms, with sections devoted to human evolution, prehistory, the Roman age, the Renaissance, the Risorgimento and natural sciences; the museum also has a specialised library, a teaching workshop and an educational module.

Highlights

• Finds from the UNESCO pile-dwelling sites of Bande di Cavriana and Castellaro Lagusello
• Reconstruction of a pile dwelling
• Enigmatic Bronze Age tablets
• Sections on the Roman age, the Renaissance and the Risorgimento
• Tactile routes and a museum guide in Braille for visually impaired people
• Audio guides in five languages

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione permanente: dall’evoluzione umana al Risorgimento – Thirteen rooms with finds on human evolution, prehistory (UNESCO pile dwellings), the Roman age, the Renaissance, the Risorgimento and natural sciences.

Founded

1983

Visitors per year

approx. 7,860

Admission & discounts

Free admission for accompanying teachers, persons with disabilities and ICOM members who are up to date with their annual fee. Members of the “Amici del Museo” have free admission all year round.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

The museum is housed in Villa Mirra, with all rooms on one floor and 4 toilets, one of them fully accessible. Passages at least 87 cm wide. Accessible parking nearby and pavements with dropped kerbs. Tactile routes for visually impaired people, a museum guide in Braille, models and reproductions to touch, magnetic buckles (fibbie magnetiche) for hard-of-hearing visitors, and guided visits for persons with disabilities. Panels and captions also in English.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational activities and workshops for different age groups on archaeology, history, art, anthropology and natural sciences; the museum has a teaching workshop.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Villa Mirra, in Piazza Castello in Cavriana, with a forecourt and garden in front.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum bookshop; in the square there are bars and private restaurants.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit