Centro internazionale di fotografia Scavi Scaligeri, Photography museum in central Verona, Italy
The Centro Internazionale di Fotografia sits at an archaeological site several meters below street level near Piazza Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. The space displays contemporary photography exhibitions among Roman ruins, including remains of residential buildings, mosaics, and sections of ancient roads.
Archaeological excavations between 1981 and 1983 uncovered Roman patrician houses with geometric mosaics, animal figures, and a well-preserved section of Roman road. These findings form the foundation of the museum and reveal daily life in the city during Roman times.
The museum merges contemporary photography displays with archaeological remains, connecting ancient Roman structures and modern artistic expression. Visitors can see how old walls and floors frame the exhibitions, creating an unusual setting for artworks.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and is easily reached on foot from Piazza Erbe, as it lies directly below the central squares. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to navigate several flights of stairs to access the displayed works.
Underground exhibitions are surrounded by Lombard tombs, Roman sewage systems, and other remains of a city built in layers over thousands of years. This layered history is experienced nowhere else in the city as clearly as in this underground setting.
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