Campania has a new state museum: the National Archaeological Museum in Sessa Aurunca

Campania has a new state museum as of yesterday. The National Archaeological Museum in Sessa Aurunca (Caserta) officially opened its doors, enriching the National Museum System with a new piece dedicated to the territory’s thousand-year history. The inauguration, held in the spaces of the Ducal Castle, was attended by the Director General of Museums, Massimo Osanna, flanked by the director of the Campania Regional Museums Directorate, Luana Toniolo, and the Mayor of Sessa Aurunca, Lorenzo Di Iorio. Curators Carlo Rescigno, a professor at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” and Marco Giglio, a researcher at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” explained the details of this project, which marks an important moment for the local community and archaeology enthusiasts.

+“The inauguration of the National Archaeological Museum of Sessa Aurunca,” said Museums General Director Massimo Osanna, “represents a significant new step for the National Museum System, which this year, in Campania, has already seen the opening of the Archaeological Museum of Capri, inside the Certosa di San Giacomo. These are interventions that not only expand the cultural offerings of the area, but also respond to the fundamental function of museums as cultural garrisons, capable of generating knowledge and participation in communities. The installation, housed in the Castello Ducale in Sessa Aurunca, was made possible thanks to accessibility funds provided by the PNRR. Designed with inclusion and total accessibility in mind, it guarantees an optimal visiting experience for all audiences, also making use of innovative technological solutions that offer a complete and comprehensive reading of the area’s extraordinary archaeological evidence. The realization of this project is the result of a close inter-institutional collaboration, which involved the Municipality of Sessa Aurunca, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and local universities. A virtuous example of synergy between public bodies and academic institutions, aimed at the enhancement of a heritage that not only tells the story of a territory, but becomes an integral part of it, promoting cultural growth and social cohesion.”

A tale spanning centuries of history

Located inside the Ducal Castle of Sessa Aurunca, the museum tells the story of a rich and stratified territory that stretches from Campania beyond the Volturno River to lower Lazio, including such significant localities as the Circeo promontory, the mountains of Treglia, the coast of Mondragone, and the city of Aquino. The exhibition traverses the ages, from its roots in the Iron Age (9th-8th centuries BC) to the founding of the Latin colonies of Suessa and Minturnae, following the Roman conquest of 313 BC.

The first three rooms are devoted to the pre-Roman phases and feature artifacts that testify to the Ausoni-Aurunci culture, including artifacts from sanctuaries immersed in nature. Of particular note is the sanctuary of the goddess Marica at the mouth of the Garigliano River, of which numerous votives are on display. Subsequent rooms focus on the Roman age: the suburban area, with its rustic villas and wine production, such as the famous Falerno, is illustrated alongside burial grounds and urban archaeological evidence from Suessa.

Special space is devoted to the Roman theater of Sessa Aurunca, one of the most impressive buildings of the period, where the statue of Matidia Minor, once located in the scenae frons of the theater, stands out. The exhibit recreates the original atmosphere, integrating decorative elements into a new visual narrative.

Innovation and inclusiveness: a museum for all

The Sessa Aurunca Archaeological Museum aims to distinguish itself through its inclusive and technological approach. Interactive installations, designed by Dotdotdot studio, offer accessible and customizable content for different audiences. Tactile stations allow visually impaired visitors to explore the themes of the exhibition sections, while QR codes and interactive maps offer dynamic insights into each object and area of the museum.

Prominent among the innovations are 3-D videos that reproduce crucial exhibits not physically present in the museum, such as the famous Kore or Aphrodite of Sessa, housed in the British Museum. This late archaic bronze masterpiece, attributed to an Etruscan craftsman, is shown in an accurate virtual reconstruction. Another video allows visitors to explore Sessa’s Roman theater, helping them to place the exhibits in their original context.

Collaboration and enhancement of the territory

Thanks to an enhancement agreement between the Campania Regional Museums Directorate and the Municipality of Sessa Aurunca, the Ducal Castle has been earmarked to host the new exhibit. A further agreement with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples made possible the display of the Venus of Sinuessa, on loan for four years-a unique opportunity to admire this masterpiece in its place of origin.

The project was implemented as part of the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), which funded interventions to improve cognitive, sensory and cultural accessibility. The museum thus becomes one of the first concrete examples of these goals, offering a comprehensive and accessible experience for all audiences.

With an integrated ticket that also allows access to Sessa Aurunca’s Roman Theater, the museum is bidding to become a landmark destination for scholars, tourists and citizens, consolidating the link between past and present in a fascinating journey through millennia of history.

The museum opens Tuesday and Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. (last entry 6:30 p.m.), Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (last entry 12:30 p.m.), closed Monday. Tickets: ordinary 5€, reduced 18-25 years 2€, free 0-18 years and eligible. The ticket is also valid for admission to the Roman Theater in Sessa Aurunca. Tickets can be purchased: - online on the Musei Italiani website (https://www.museiitaliani.it/acquista-biglietto); - from smartphones via the Musei Italiani app (available on Apple Store or Google Play); - by credit or debit card, at the ticket machine located at the entrance to the Archaeological Museum of Sessa Aurunca. For online purchase support: e-mail info@museiitaliani.it, tel. +39 06 87570182 (daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Info: National Archaeological Museum of Sessa Aurunca Piazza Castello, 2 - 81037 Sessa Aurunca (CE); +39 0823936455, drm-cam.sessa@cultura.gov.it museicampania.cultura.gov.it

Campania has a new state museum: the National Archaeological Museum in Sessa Aurunca

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