Polo museale casa Zapata, Archaeological museum and historic house in Barumini, Italy.
Palazzo Zapata is a noble palace on the highest point of Barumini, built in the early 17th century by the Spanish Zapata family. Since 2006 it has housed the town's museum complex, with archaeological, historical and ethnographic sections. Its restoration by architect Pietro Reali also brought to light the nuragic settlement of Nuraxi 'e Cresia beneath the building.
The palace was built in the early 1600s for the Spanish Zapata family and served as a noble residence for generations. During renovations in the 1990s, workers discovered the remains of an ancient nuragic settlement beneath the building, revealing its archaeological importance.
The ethnographic section displays traditional tools, clothing, and household items that show how people lived in past Sardinian communities. You can see the everyday objects that were central to life in the region across centuries.
The museum occupies the palace and the nuragic remains beneath it, reached through the restoration by architect Pietro Reali; the complex was inaugurated on 29 July 2006. The three sections—archaeological, historical and ethnographic—are visited in sequence, so allow time to move between the upper floors and the excavated level below.
Beneath the palace floor lies a complete nuragic complex that was uncovered during archaeological investigation. This makes it a rare place where visitors can observe ancient remains directly under a noble residence.
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