National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara

Museum in Ferrara

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Palickap

The National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara, housed in the Palazzo Costabili, showcases artifacts from the ancient Etruscan city of Spina. Spina thrived from the 6th to the 3rd century B.C. and continued to exist into the early centuries A.D. However, it was eventually submerged by the waters of the Po Delta, becoming a legendary name for many centuries.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first necropolises of Spina were rediscovered during land reclamation efforts, leading to extensive archaeological excavations that uncovered thousands of graves. In the latter half of the 20th century, the site of the city itself was identified.

The museum houses a diverse collection of objects, many of which display remarkable artistic quality. Notably, there is a wealth of objects related to symposiums, many of Athenian origin, indicating the close cultural ties between Spina and Greece. The Greeks considered the inhabitants of Spina as fellow citizens. Spina’s port was a significant trading center where goods from various parts of the world, including northern Europe and the African coast, arrived, leading to considerable wealth among its residents.

The museum’s exhibits are organized into sets, grouping objects according to the burial grounds they were discovered in. Among the highlights are large Attic symposium vases adorned with depictions of daily life, mythological scenes, and episodes from the Trojan War. Alongside these elaborately decorated items are more utilitarian objects, such as candelabras, tripods, and stands, mostly crafted in bronze by the Etruscans.

The National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Ferrara!

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