Museo archeologico nazionale di Ascoli Piceno

About the museum

The Museo archeologico nazionale di Ascoli Piceno is housed in Palazzo Panichi, on Piazza Arringo beside the Cathedral, and is a peripheral institute of the Palazzo Ducale di Urbino – Regional Directorate of National Museums of the Marche. It holds finds from south-central Marche and for this reason has been, from the outset, a museum of the territory.

The collection ideally continues the function of the Civico Museo Archeologico, established by the Comune immediately after Italian unification in 1861 and curated by the Ascolan Giulio Gabrielli, its first director. In the first fifty years of the 20th century the museum changed its seat several times. In 1981 an agreement between the Comune and the heritage authority (Soprintendenza) established that the civic collections would flow into the new state archaeological museum, inaugurated on 13 June of that year in the Renaissance palace and later enriched by new excavations in the city and the territory.

The palace, attributed to Giovanni Maria Spinola, incorporated medieval structures such as a tower and a house; in the 18th century, under the Ridolfi family, it was raised and given a coffered ceiling on the piano nobile (main floor), while in the 19th century it passed to the Panichi family. It was saved from demolition when the State purchased it in 1958. The heart of the route is the Picene section, with a set of jewellery in bronze, iron and amber and weapons; on the ground floor the remains of the ancient Asculum can be seen, among inscriptions in travertine and a mosaic with a double-faced mask, while the prehistoric section is on the second floor.

Highlights

• Picene section with a set of bronze, iron and amber jewellery and weapons
• Remains of Roman Asculum with inscriptions in travertine
• Mosaic with a central double-faced mask
• Roman section with Braille captions and works to explore with gloves
• Palazzo Panichi, Renaissance building on Piazza Arringo

Permanent exhibitions

• Sezione picena – Set of Picene bronze, iron and amber jewellery and weapons; the section is being re-displayed.
• Sezione romana – Remains of Asculum on the ground floor, among inscribed travertine monuments and the mosaic with a double-faced mask; route accessible also with Braille and tactile works.
• Sezione preistorica – Prehistoric materials from the territory, on the second floor; display in progress.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Marche (Palazzo Ducale di Urbino)

Visitors per year

approx. 6,877

Admission & discounts

Tickets can also be bought online; free-admission conditions are on the museum's website.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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 accessible to people with mobility disabilities thanks to a lift, a platform lift and ramps. The Roman section (display of May 2022) has Braille captions on all works, Braille booklets with the texts of the panels, available at the ticket office, and some sculptures to explore with the gloves provided at the entrance. Guided visits for special needs on request (+39 389 266 1227).

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Dedicated educational services; free admission under 18 for EU citizens.

Getting there & parking

By car from the A14 motorway, exit San Benedetto del Tronto, Raccordo autostradale 11, exit Ascoli Piceno centro – Porta Cartara, then follow the signs for the historic centre.

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