Museo archeologico nazionale di Metaponto

About the museum

The museum replaces a small antiquarium near the Heraion outside the walls, at the locality Tavole Palatine, which remained active until the 1980s. The current building was inaugurated in January 1991 on an artificial hill in the modern village of Metaponto; in the outdoor area a group of archaic burials has been reconstructed.

The Achaean foundation of the city dates to the last quarter of the 7th century BC, at the request of the Sybarites. In the 6th century BC the first Doric temples and the ekklesisterion were built. In the 4th century BC Metaponto was among the most prosperous cities, thanks to agriculture and crafts, with a quarter of potters. After the capture of Taranto (272 BC) it came under Roman control and went through a crisis, especially after Hannibal’s defeat. The resumption of excavations is linked to the archaeologist Dinu Adamesteanu, the first superintendent of Basilicata.

The exhibition route, of about 800 square metres, illustrates settlement from the Bronze Age, the Enotri, the arrival of the Greeks from the Peloponnese, the formation of the colony between the Bradano and Basento rivers, the Italic centres of the hinterland and the effects of the Roman conquest, with Greek and indigenous pottery, grave goods and works from Lucanian workshops. The museum is currently closed for renovation.

Highlights

• Indigenous pottery and Italo-Mycenaean vases from San Teodoro and Incoronata
• Krater with Bellerophon on Pegasus and Greek figured pottery
• Dionysiac and Orphic scenes on vases of the Classical–Hellenistic period
• Works from proto-Lucanian and Lucanian workshops (Painter of Pisticci, Painter of Amykos)
• Reconstruction of archaic burials in the outdoor area

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso archeologico di Metaponto – Sections on settlement from the Bronze Age, the Enotri-Choni, the Greeks, the colony between the Bradano and Basento, the Italic centres and the Roman conquest (currently not open because of works).

Founded

1991

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali della Basilicata

Visitors per year

approx. 35,862

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sundays of the month and other occasions announced by the Ministry of Culture.

Free entry to the Temple of Hera (Tavole Palatine) and to the park. Single ticket office on site or online via the Musei Italiani portal; the ticket is non-refundable. Also free for EU tourist guides, teachers with certification, registered journalists and other categories.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• 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

All areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility via ramps.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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