Museo archeologico nazionale Gaio Cilnio Mecenate

About the museum

The museum takes its name from Gaio Cilnio Mecenate, born in Arezzo in the age of Augustus and patron of poets and artists. The city's archaeological collection dates back to 1823 and since 1937 has been housed in the former monastery of San Bernardo, a building with an unusually curved outline because it was erected in the 14th century over the remains of the Roman amphitheatre of Arretium, dating to the 2nd century AD.

After the damage suffered in the war, the complex was restored in 1951 and the rooms were rearranged several times, up to the latest display of the 1990s. Management passed to the State in 1973 and since 2014 has fallen under the Ministry of Culture through the regional structure of state museums in Tuscany.

The route extends over 26 rooms on two floors. The ground floor reconstructs the history of Arezzo from its Etruscan origins to Late Antiquity, with grave goods from the Poggio del Sole necropolis, painted terracotta decorations from the city's temples and materials from the sanctuary of Castelsecco. The upper floor houses the prehistoric section and thematic rooms devoted to ceramics, glass, precious objects, bronzes and coins, as well as the collections of local collectors. The museum holds the largest collection in the world of Arretine red-gloss pottery, the so-called “vasi corallini” (coral vases). Part of the amphitheatre is visible in the basement and in the external archaeological area.

Highlights

• Attic red-figure krater with an Amazonomachy attributed to Euphronios
• Arretine red-gloss pottery (“vasi corallini”)
• Goldwork from the Poggio del Sole necropolis
• Painted architectural terracottas from the temples of Arezzo
• Remains of the Roman amphitheatre, visible inside the museum and outdoors

Permanent exhibitions

• Collezione permanente – piano terra – History of Arezzo from its Etruscan origins to Late Antiquity, with grave goods, temple terracottas and the krater attributed to Euphronios.
• Ceramica aretina e sezioni tematiche – piano superiore – Prehistoric section, red-gloss pottery, glass, precious objects, bronzes and coins, with the collections of local collectors.

Founded

1937

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana

Visitors per year

approx. 7,781 (2022)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month.

At the ticket office the standard admission costs €6 and the reduced admission €2; buying online adds a fee of €3 per ticket (standard €9, reduced €5, free €3). Reductions and free admission follow the rules for state museums. Groups of more than 10 people buy tickets using a dedicated online form.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

According to the regional accessibility guide, the museum has a stairlift, a lift and a toilet for people with disabilities on the ground floor.

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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