National Archaeological Museum, Archaeological museum in Aquileia, Italy
The National Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum in Aquileia, housed in Villa Cassis Faraone and spread across three floors. It displays statues, glassware, coins, household objects, and burial monuments recovered from the ancient Roman city and its surroundings.
The museum traces its origins to a private collection assembled by Gian Domenico Bertoli, which was displayed at the baptistery of Aquileia's Basilica from 1807. It was formally established in 1882 when the collection moved to Villa Cassis Faraone, where it has been open to visitors ever since.
The collection includes mosaics, burial monuments, and inscriptions that show how Roman settlers in Aquileia lived and what they believed. Decorative objects and personal items on display give a close look at everyday life in the ancient city.
The museum is open on both weekdays and weekends, and a visit through all three floors takes a few hours at a relaxed pace. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, as the floors cover a lot of ground and require extended time on your feet.
Among the more unusual objects on display are glass vessels shaped like dates, which give a sense of the craftsmanship and trade connections of the ancient city. Military equipment found in the area also points to the city's role as a key supply point in the Roman world.
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