Museo Lapidario Estense, Archaeological museum in Palazzo dei Musei, Modena, Italy.
The Museo Lapidario Estense is an archaeological museum in Palazzo dei Musei that displays Roman artifacts such as funerary monuments, stone inscriptions, and sepulchral containers. The objects are arranged along the walls of an eighteenth-century gallery and show how people lived and organized their society in ancient times.
The museum was established in 1828 by Duke Francesco IV of Austria-Este as Modena's first public cultural institution of its kind. This founding followed the example of similar museums in other Italian cities and opened the city's archaeological treasures to the public.
The collection features Roman honorary bases and public inscriptions that reveal how the ancient inhabitants of Modena honored their leaders and gods. These objects show the values and beliefs that mattered most to the people who lived here centuries ago.
The museum is located in Palazzo dei Musei and is open from Tuesday to Sunday with tablet guides available to help you navigate the collection. The galleries are easy to walk through, and the objects are clearly displayed along the walls.
The museum preserves memorial stones from Modena's inhabitants spanning seven centuries, including nobles, lawyers, and artists who recorded their accomplishments in carved inscriptions. These personal records provide a rare glimpse into the names and stories of people who shaped the city over time.
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