National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari, National archaeological museum in Castello district, Cagliari, Italy
The National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari is housed in the Castello district and holds around 4,000 objects from different periods of Sardinian history. The collection is arranged chronologically, moving through prehistoric settlements, ancient cities, and medieval times.
The building began as a royal arsenal in the 1800s before being repurposed as a museum in later decades. Architects redesigned the structure to create proper spaces for displaying and preserving these ancient objects.
The collection shows figures and objects from different periods of island life, revealing how people worshipped, fought, and created art over thousands of years. Walking through the rooms, you see how craftsmanship and beliefs changed across each era.
The museum sits in the upper part of Cagliari and is accessible to visitors with mobility needs. Good walking shoes are useful since you will climb stairs and move through multiple levels to see the entire collection.
The collection holds a remarkable number of small bronze figures portraying leaders, warriors, and priests that were discovered at ancient sacred sites. These bronzes are extraordinarily rare and represent a form of art found nowhere else in the ancient Mediterranean.
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