Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Villa of Pope Julius III, one of the most fascinating places of the Roman Renaissance. After the splendour of the 16th century the villa went through a long period of decline, until in 1889, shortly after Italian unification, on the initiative of the archaeologist and politician Felice Barnabei it was turned into a museum by royal decree of 7 February.

Barnabei’s project envisaged a national museum dedicated to the pre-Roman antiquities of the Etruscans and of Italic peoples such as the Faliscans, Umbrians, Latins and Sabines, with objects found in the area around Rome and in the territories of the former Papal State, from Lazio to Umbria. In the 20th century the museum became the central seat of the Soprintendenza archeologica per l’Etruria meridionale, covering the area of Veio, Cerveteri, Tarquinia and Vulci.

The nearby Villa Poniatowski, a 19th-century residence of the last descendant of the kings of Poland, has been added to the seat. Today the museum holds over 6,000 objects in 50 rooms, on an exhibition area of more than 3,000 square metres, and is considered the most important Etruscan museum in the world. Since 2016 it has been one of the 32 state institutes of major national interest with scientific and administrative autonomy.

Highlights

• Sarcophagus of the Spouses (Sarcofago degli sposi)
• Apollo of Veio
• Villa of Pope Julius III with nymphaeum
• Over 6,000 finds in 50 rooms
• Tomba François (limited entry)

Permanent exhibition

• Collezioni etrusche e italiche – Over 6,000 finds in 50 rooms: masterpieces of Etruscan art and of the pre-Roman Italic civilisations, including the Sarcophagus of the Spouses and the Apollo of Veio.

Founded

1889

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura

Visitors per year

approx. 83,632

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, 25 April, 2 June and 4 November

Reductions follow the regulations of the Ministero della Cultura. There is an agreement with the FAI; the museum takes part in the Roma Pass. The visit to the Tomba François and the related exhibition is included in the ticket, with limited entries and mandatory booking (Musei Italiani app or CoopCulture website); the tomb cannot be visited on free-admission days.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The museum offers guided tours and resources for different accessibility needs, including tactile aids, audio descriptions and access to the museum car park. For information, write to mn-etru.accessibilita@cultura.gov.it.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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