Museo civico archeologico «Paolo Vagliasindi»

About the museum

The museum houses the archaeological collection of Baron Paolo Vagliasindi, one of the most important archaeological sources of the Etna area. Since 1998 it has been located in the castle “ex carcere” (former prison) of Randazzo, a tower built into the city walls and visible from Piazza San Martino, which served as a prison from the 17th century until 1973 and was restored in the 1980s. Previously the collection was kept in the Palazzo Vagliasindi, damaged by bombing in 1943.

The museum holds finds from the 6th to the 4th century BC, mostly discovered in the contrada Sant’Anastasia of Randazzo, where Antonino Salinas (1898–1899) and Paolo Orsi (1904) also excavated. The route is arranged in six rooms: the room of the pithoi, the room of the Vagliasindi oinochoe, the Ionian room, the black-ware room, the Attic figured-ware room and the Hellenistic room. Visitors see Ionian and Corinthian pottery, black-glaze vessels, polychrome pyxides, votive terracottas linked to the cult of Persephone, Hellenistic goldwork, bronze objects and a coin collection spanning from the Greek period to the Bourbon period.

The best-known work is the Vagliasindi oinochoe, an Attic red-figure vessel from the late 5th century BC showing the rare myth of the Harpies, who torment the blind king Phineus and are punished by the Boreads. The same castle also displays the collection of Sicilian puppets of the Museo dell’Opera dei Pupi.

Highlights

• Vagliasindi oinochoe, an Attic red-figure vessel with the Harpies and King Phineus
• Polychrome pyxides and votive terracottas from the Sant’Anastasia necropolises
• Hellenistic goldwork and bronze objects
• Coin collection from the Greek period to the Bourbon period
• Castle with a tower used as a prison until 1973

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione archeologica Vagliasindi – Six rooms with finds from the 6th to the 4th century BC from the contrada Sant’Anastasia, including the Vagliasindi oinochoe.

Operated by

Comune di Randazzo

Admission & discounts

Prices are from the Rete dei Musei Comunali (ANCI Sicilia) and from a local tour guide; the Musei Italiani portal, by contrast, lists free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

The Rete dei Musei Comunali reports architectural barriers (stairs).

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

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