Museo civico archeologico di Sarteano

About the museum

The Museo Civico Archeologico di Sarteano opened on 27 September 1997 in Palazzo Gabrielli, a 16th-century building with medieval predecessors, such as the so-called “porta del morto” (door of the dead) in the second room. On the lower floor, once used as cellars, the foundations rest directly on the travertine bank in which the Etruscan tombs whose finds are displayed were dug.

The founding of the museum made it possible to bring back to the area materials held in the storerooms of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, from excavations of the late 19th and 20th centuries, together with the small nucleus of the municipal Antiquarium, previously displayed in the Palazzo Comunale, and the private Bologni collection, donated to the museum. Since 2000 the museum has conducted excavations in the Pianacce necropolis, where some twenty tombs have been discovered.

The route, both topographical and chronological, covers the period from the 9th to the 1st century BC and presents materials from the necropoleises of Sferracavalli, Poggio Rotondo, Macchiapiana, Sant'Angelo, della Palazzina and Pianacce. In October 2003, during excavations at Pianacce, the Tomb of the Quadriga Infernale was discovered, with a painted cycle of the second half of the 4th century BC, among the most important archaeological discoveries in Italy in recent decades. The lower floor of the museum is dedicated to the finds from that site.

Highlights

• Etruscan human-headed canopic jars from the Sferracavalli and Macchiapiana necropoleises
• Cippus in pietra fetida (a local stone) from Sant'Angelo, with scenes of a funeral ceremony
• Cinerary group with the deceased and the demon Vanth from Pianacce
• Attic black- and red-figure pottery
• Guided visit to the Tomb of the Quadriga Infernale, with 4th-century BC paintings
• Panel texts in Braille for blind visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Il museo e le necropoli di Sarteano – The rooms arrange the finds from the area's necropoleises from the 9th to the 1st century BC, with canopic jars, grave goods and cippi in pietra fetida.
• Le Pianacce e la Tomba della Quadriga Infernale – The lower floor presents finds from the Pianacce necropolis, including the cinerary group with Vanth and the Attic pottery.

Founded

1997

Operated by

Comune di Sarteano

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for ICOM members and residents of the municipality of Sarteano. At present payment is possible only in cash.

Accessibility

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

For motor disabilities a stair lift connects the ground floor to the basement, with assistance from staff; specific toilets are available. For blind visitors a Braille volume with the text of all the panels is available.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car from the A1 Chiusi-Chianciano Terme motorway exit, turn left and drive 7 km to Sarteano. From Piazza Bargagli go up to Piazza XXIV Giugno and take Via Roma: after 20 metres on the right is Palazzo Gabrielli.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

The museum offers a Wi-Fi network for visitors, to be used with the izi.Travel app.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit