National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia reopens with brand new layout

The National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia has reopened its doors to the public after a challenging redesign. The inauguration took place on August 3, 2018, the day the museum celebrated its 136th birthday, and the rearrangement needed to give it a new look was made possible thanks to an extraordinary €4.5 million grant from Mibac earmarked for the Friuli Venezia Giulia Museum Pole, as part of the Great Cultural Heritage Projects Strategic Plan provided for in the decree-law known as the Art bonus, intended for the completion of Museums of Significant National Interest.

The work consisted of a renovation of the spaces of Villa Cassis Faraone, something that had not happened since the 1955 restoration, and the new layout was designed to enhance and make the masterpieces housed there more easily accessible.

Alberto Bonisoli, minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities, was present at the inauguration, emphasizing, "The expansion of the Man allows us to offer the public treasures hitherto confined to storage, making it possible to fully understand the importance and prominence of the ancient Roman settlement that, until the entire late ancient period, was one of the radiating centers of civilization and knowledge of the Adriatic basin and the entire Mediterranean. Men, trades, knowledge and religions met and mutually contaminated each other for centuries in this city, leaving significant evidence that now, thanks to the efforts made by the Ministry together with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, we can fully enjoy."

“The museum,” explains the director of the Polo Museale del Friuli Venezia Giulia Luca Carbulotto, “is always a complex organism with its own life and history, in which knowledge, emotion and narration make up a multiform whole, which all changes when even a part of it changes. For this reason, the task of rearranging it by preserving its place and soul, but turning it to modern standards, calls for both intimate participation and lucid detachment.”

Aquileia’s MAN director Marta Novello adds, “The aim of the project was to make the museum, even more than before, a place open to everyone and not only to archaeology insiders and scholars. A living place, in which it is the works themselves, and through them the ancient inhabitants of Aquileia, that accompany the visitor, or rather the different visitors with their multiple needs, in the discovery of what was one of the most important economic, cultural and strategic-military centers of the Roman world. The materials have undergone a careful selection process and are now presented within their contexts of use, with the intention of offering an engaging narrative journey that allows a greater understanding of the reality of the ancient city.”

The rearrangement project is the result of a team effort that has brought together internal Mibac professionals-such as directors Caburlotto and Novello, Anna Chiarelli, Single Procedure Manager, Stefania Casucci for design, Elena Braidotti and Annalisa De Franzoni for technical and scientific support- to professionals such as Giovanni Tortelli for the museographic layout, to a scientific committee composed of experts in the field - Gemma Sena Chiesa, Francesca Ghedini, Franca Maselli Scotti, Francesca Morandini, Matteo Ceriana. Information about the museum can be found on the official website.

In the photo, the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia. Ph. Credit Rino Porrovecchio.

National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia reopens with brand new layout

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