Parco Archeologico e Antiquarium di Castelseprio

About the museum

The Castelseprio area was frequented from protohistoric times, but its greatest importance begins in the 5th century AD, when a fortified castrum, surrounded by towered walls, arose on pre-existing 4th-century military installations. In the Gothic period it became an important node of the defensive system of the sub-Alpine region; in the Lombard and Carolingian periods it was the administrative and judicial centre of a vast territory. The castrum was destroyed by the Visconti in 1287, and the site was finally abandoned between the 16th and 17th centuries.

The first finds date back to 1809. Between 1946 and 1958 excavations directed by Mario Bertolone and Mario Mirabella Roberti brought to light the area of the castrum and the village, with the pieve (parish church) of San Giovanni, the baptistery and residential and service buildings. Research, now also carried out in collaboration with universities, continues today.

Outside the walls stands the church of Santa Maria foris portas, a building with a three-apse plan considered one of the most unusual monuments of the early Middle Ages for its cycle of frescoes in the east apse, dedicated to the Nativity and childhood of Christ and inspired by the apocryphal Gospels. The Antiquarium, opened in April 2009, illustrates with its finds the history of the site from protohistory to its abandonment. Since 2011 Castelseprio has been part of the serial UNESCO site “I Longobardi in Italia. I luoghi del potere (568–774 d.C.)”. The park is managed by the Direzione regionale Musei Lombardia; the nearby Monastero di Torba, by contrast, belongs to the FAI.

Highlights

• Church of Santa Maria foris portas with the cycle of frescoes in the apse
• Remains of the castrum with towered walls and the basilica of San Giovanni
• Antiquarium with finds from protohistory to the late Middle Ages
• UNESCO site “I Longobardi in Italia”
• Woodland route over about 55,000 m² open to the public

Permanent exhibitions

• Antiquarium di Castelseprio – Finds that tell the story of the site, from the protohistoric settlement to the birth of the castrum, the Visconti destruction of 1287 and the abandonment between the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Chiesa di Santa Maria foris portas – Small three-apse church outside the walls, with frescoes in the east apse dedicated to the Nativity and childhood of Christ.

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei Lombardia

Admission & discounts

Booking the ticket is optional.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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: no information

Offices, the Antiquarium and the church of Santa Maria foris portas are free of architectural barriers. The open-air archaeological area, due to its natural layout, is not fully accessible to wheelchairs; however a facilitated route on gravel paths is available. The park joins the Musei Polisensoriali project: tactile panels, raised drawings and audio-video guides in LIS and ISL are provided.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From Milan: A8 motorway towards Varese, Solbiate Arno exit, then signs for Carnago and Castelseprio. From Varese: provincial road towards Gazzada, Schianno, Morazzone, Carnago and Castelseprio.

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