Museo civico archeologico Ubaldo Formentini

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Castello San Giorgio, the fortress that dominates the city from the Poggio hill. The first building phases date back to at least the second half of the 14th century. In 1443 the lower body, designed for firearms, was added, and the definitive layout results from the works of 1607 commissioned by the Republic of Genoa to strengthen the defences of the gulf. After a long period of neglect, the castle was restored from 1985 onwards and reused as a museum space.

The Civic Museum of La Spezia was founded in 1873 with natural history collections. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, palaeontological and prehistoric archaeological research in the area, linked to scholars such as Giovanni Capellini, led to important discoveries that are now displayed in the rooms. From the early decades of the 20th century the statue-stelae of the Copper and Iron Ages and the numerous Roman finds from the colony of Luni were added; these were collected by the Fabbricotti family and purchased in 1938 by a consortium led by the municipality.

The museum is dedicated to Ubaldo Formentini, director of the Library and of the Civic Museum from 1923 to 1958. It also displays part of the collection donated by the La Spezia artist Mauro Manfredi, with over a hundred vases of Greek, Messapian, Daunian, Etruscan and Corinthian production from the 1st millennium BC.

Highlights

• Statue-stelae of the Copper and Iron Ages
• Roman finds from the colony of Luni (Fabbricotti collection)
• Manfredi collection of Greek, Etruscan, Messapian and Daunian vases
• Casts of statue-stelae to touch in the castle park
• Terraces with views of the Gulf of La Spezia

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione archeologica permanente – Route through the castle's rooms with prehistoric and protohistoric finds from eastern Liguria, statue-stelae, Roman material from Luni and ancient vases from the Manfredi collection.

Founded

1873

Operated by

Comune della Spezia

Visitors per year

approx. 45,203

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for licensed guides of the province, school parties, teachers of the municipality, students of the La Spezia university centre, journalists and ICOM members. The full ticket includes the permanent collections and any temporary exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

It has not been possible to install lifts in the historic monument. Since 2013 an electric vehicle has carried visitors with mobility difficulties from the entrance ramp to the rooms on the upper floor and to the terraces, and a stairlift is available by booking. In the castle park, casts of statue-stelae that blind and partially sighted visitors can touch are displayed. In the room, a bilingual Italian–English touch screen presents the statue-stelae, with translation into LIS.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is in Via XXVII Marzo. Free public lifts connect the centre to the street, with no changes of level.

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