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Museo Archeologico Nazionale

The history

The 17th-century Palazzo della Crocetta, built as a residence for the sister of Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici, has been home since 1880 to the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, which was founded as the Etruscan Museum at the Cenacolo di Fuligno about 10 years earlier and merged with the pre-existing Egyptian section. The exhibits come mainly from the private collections of the Medici and Lorraine Grand Dukes.

The collection

Located close to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, the MAF preserves a large number of archaeological finds of inestimable historical and artistic value. The four main sections are devoted to Etruscan, Greek, Roman and Egyptian artefacts, but the museum also houses smaller collections such as the Numismatic collection. Inside we can admire the splendid Chimera of Arezzo, an Etruscan bronze from the 5th century B.C. considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the period, the Idolino di Pesaro, a Roman bronze from the 1st century B.C., and the marvellous Vaso François, an Attic black-figure crater from the 6th century B.C.

Surprising is the Egyptian Section, named the Egyptian Museum for its extraordinary vastness. Its rooms, decorated with friezes and inscriptions reminiscent of Ancient Egyptian architecture, contain the second largest collection in Italy after that of Turin. The artefacts and finds range from prehistoric times to the end of the ancient dynasties with the advent of the Romans, covering the entire chronology of this wonderful civilisation.

Outside, there is a monumental garden, open to the public since 1902, where visitors can admire Etruscan tombs that have been moved in their entirety from their original locations and reconstructed on site.

The artworks

  • Chimera of Arezzo, 400 BC
  • Arringatore, Late 2nd-early 1st century BC
  • Minerva of Arezzo, 1541
  • François Vase, 570 a.C, Ergotimo e Kleitias
  • Situla della Pania, 2nd century BC
  • Sarcophagus of Larthia Seianti, 50-130 BC
  • Sarcophagus of the Amazons, 4th century BC
  • Urn with banquet scene, last decades of the 6th century BC

Photo: Chimera d’Arezzo, 400 a.C.

PIAZZA DELLA SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA, 9B, 50121 FLORENCE
Opening hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 8:30 – 13:15
Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
First Sunday of the month 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Closing time:

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sunday of the month
Christmas
New Year

Average visit time:

1-2 hours

Books and guides

Merchandise

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