Museo Civico Archeologico «Arsenio Crespellani»
Archaeological museum in the Rocca dei Bentivoglio at Bazzano, with finds from the Mesolithic to the Renaissance from the Valsamoggia, the Lavino and the Reno.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The civic archaeological museum of Bazzano was founded in 1873 on the initiative of the Società per Scavi Archeologici a Scopo Scientifico (Society for Archaeological Excavations for Scientific Purposes), made up of citizens of Bazzano and led by the archaeologist from Modena Arsenio Crespellani, after whom it is now named. The original nucleus of material donated by the Society formed the first collection, later enriched up to the most recent finds made by the Soprintendenza.
The museum occupies five rooms on the first floor of the Rocca dei Bentivoglio, a border fortress with a 14th-century core expanded in the Bentivoglio period, which over time housed the Capitanato della Montagna, a prison, a theatre, barracks, a school and a museum. The route begins with prehistory and the Bronze Age and reaches the Iron Age in the first room; rooms 2 and 3 present Roman-period materials, which bear witness to agricultural and manufacturing settlements.
The last two rooms house the Sala dei Ghepardi (Cheetah Room), dedicated to the Risorgimento (Italian unification), and the finds from the 7th-century BC necropolis of Casalecchio. The collections gather material from the Samoggia valley (Bazzano, Monteveglio, Castello di Serravalle), the Lavino (Zola Predosa) and the Reno (Casalecchio di Reno). The Fondazione Rocca dei Bentivoglio also runs educational activities, birthday parties at the museum and digital projects.
Highlights
- Finds from the Mesolithic to the Renaissance from the Valsamoggia and the Reno
- Casalecchio necropolis of the 7th century BC
- Roman-period materials from agricultural and manufacturing settlements
- Sala dei Ghepardi dedicated to the Risorgimento
- Visit to the Rocca dei Bentivoglio with audio guide
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione archeologica della Valsamoggia, del Lavino e del Reno – Finds from the Mesolithic to the Renaissance in five rooms of the fortress, with the Sala dei Ghepardi and the Casalecchio necropolis.
- Founded
- 1873
- Operated by
- Fondazione Rocca dei Bentivoglio
- Visitors per year
- approx. 9,533
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3People over 65 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 13 · Free admission for under-14s. |
| Seniors | €3Reduced for over-65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Groups (16+ people) | €2 per personRate for groups of more than 15 people. |
| Holders of YoungERcard and FAI members (full-price ticket) | €2 |
| Holders of Card Cultura and FAI members (reduced ticket) | €1 |
Free admission also for tourist guides with a press card. The ticket includes the hire of the audio guide and access to the Rocca dei Bentivoglio.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- 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
The route runs between the ground floor and the first floor, and the museum is on the first floor; the building has no lifts or stairlifts for people with motor disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 13 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
The Fondazione offers activities for schools and summer camps, and the “Compleanno al Museo” (Birthday at the Museum) service; free admission for under-14s.
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.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | On arrival you receive a plan of the Rocca and the rooms are explained; the audio guide is included in the ticket. Guided tours with an internal guide are available by reservation (musei@roccadeibentivoglio.it), or visits can be made independently with prior notice. The Fondazione offers activities for schools and summer camps. |
