"Vito Capialbi" National Archaeological Museum
Museum
The National Archaeological Museum "Vito Capialbi" is based, since 1969, in a wing of the Norman-Swabian Castle. The exhibition follows a chronological and topographical path, and includes materials from the surrounding towns, enriched by some nineteenth and twentieth century collections donated by local scholars. The Museum is divided into four main sections: findings from sacred buildings, from the necropolis, from private collections and materials of the Roman period.
The exhibition begins with objects of historic era, the result of excavations in the area, such as a hut from Enolitico, including a sword of the thirteenth century BC. On the first floor are relics from the four sacred areas of the Magnogreca city, including: Corinthian, Attic and Rodian ceramics (basins), bronze helmets, votive statuettes and jewelery of significant grade gold and silver (earrings, rings, brooches, pins). From Cofino come some typical pinakes in Locri Epizefiri style and two models of terracotta temple. The lower floor displays finds from the necropolis, dating from the late seventh and fourth centuries BC, among them a gold foil with an inscription in Doric dialect-ionic evincing Orphic cult. The findings of the Hellenistic necropolis of contrada Piercastello testify the presence of Bruzi in the area, with two ceramic warriors from a monument chamber tomb of the late third century BC. In the last section, dedicated to the Roman era, there are relics from Sant'Aloe, where they were brought to light various domus and a thermal plant with beautiful mosaics, plus a utility room coinage of 867 silver coins dating to Brettie end of the third century BC. In the courtyard of the Museum has exhibited a mosaic of the third century, found near the ancient port city.