Museo Civico di Modena

About the museum

The Museo Civico di Modena was founded in 1871 and is the city's civic museum. The present display dates from 1990 and largely retains its 19th-century furnishings, a notable museographic testimony in the Italian landscape. It is housed in the Palazzo dei Musei, in Largo Porta Sant'Agostino.

The archaeological collections illustrate the settlement of the Modena area from the Palaeolithic to the Roman period, with particular attention to finds from the Bronze Age and to the Terramare culture. The ethnological collections, born in the 19th century as a complement to the prehistoric collections, include material from New Guinea, pre-Columbian Peru, South America, Africa and Asia, gathered by explorers and travellers from Modena.

The art and craft collections include sacred art, with the Madonna di Piazza by Antonio Begarelli, musical instruments made by Modenese luthiers, scientific instruments, ceramics, glass, weapons and terracottas. The ticket also covers the Giuseppe Graziosi Plaster-Cast Gallery, the Roman Lapidary and the immersive room Modena Avia Pervia, devoted to the history of the palace.

Highlights

• Archaeological collections from the Palaeolithic to the Terramare
• Madonna di Piazza by Antonio Begarelli in the sacred art room
• Ethnological collections from New Guinea, Peru, Africa and Asia
• Musical instruments made by Modenese luthiers
• Roman Lapidary and Giuseppe Graziosi Plaster-Cast Gallery
• Immersive room Modena Avia Pervia

Permanent exhibitions

• Raccolte archeologiche – Route from the first human groups of the Modena area through the Bronze Age and the Terramare to the Roman period.
• Raccolte etnologiche – Materials from New Guinea, pre-Columbian Peru, South America, Africa and Asia collected by Modenese explorers.
• Raccolte di arte e artigianato – Sacred art, musical instruments, scientific instruments, ceramics, glass, weapons and other collections.

Founded

1871

Operated by

Comune di Modena

Visitors per year

approx. 25,807

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free on the first Sunday of every month, and at openings and lectures in the museum's rooms.

The ticket covers the Museo Civico, the Giuseppe Graziosi Plaster-Cast Gallery, the Roman Lapidary and the immersive room Modena Avia Pervia (to be used within one month of issue). Free admission also for teachers, journalists with a press card, ICOM members, tourist guides and interpreters, and escorts of minors in the workshops.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 entire exhibition route has no architectural barriers; the museum map shows the dedicated lift.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car, the recommended exit is A1 Modena Nord, then via Emilia Ovest towards the centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Bar-café “Mosaico” on the ground floor, open every day from 8:00 to 23:30; bookshop at the Infopoint; cloakroom. Free EmiliaRomagnaWiFi network, active on the ground floor of the palace and in some museum rooms.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Conference room on the ground floor of the Palazzo dei Musei and rental of rooms on request.

Plan your visit