• Art & Culture

Civico Museo Archeologico in Angera

Where
Palazzo del Pretorio
Via Marconi 2, Angera (VA)
Contacts
+39 320 4653416
Official site

Angera, now a splendid holiday destination on the Lombard side of Lago Maggiore, has also provided us with some of the most ancient artefacts relating to the presence of mankind in the area of Varese, and was previously an important crossroads along the lake-river trading routes of the Alps.

Archaeological digs, beginning at the end of the 1800s, often reveal significant objects, carefully collected, studied and exhibited to the public, in educational displays that change year after year.

Civico Museo Archeologico, located in the centre of town, is housed in a lovely Fifteenth century building and collects some of the most important historical finds in the area.

The first room is dedicated to prehistory, with significant artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Copper Age, including finds in the famous Grotta di Angera. In addition to the many original artefacts, there is a sensory table allowing visitors to touch, smell, and try out different prehistoric techniques discovered in the area.

The second room showcases the Angera in Roman times. There are a number of significant artefacts from the cultures, religion and structure of the ancient vicus, in addition to the coins and other finds demonstrating the ancient trading agreements with central Europe and the Mediterranean. One section is dedicated to rare and fascinating organic and food artefacts, including an earthenware pot from Cislago containing seeds from rye, wheat and chestnuts, and the famous Panini di Angera, making the village second only to Pompei for this type of artefact.

Ample space is dedicated to the Roman Necropolis, the source of a number of artefacts, glassware, ceramics, metals, lamps, coins and jewellery. From the Paleochristian cemetery is a marble slab from the VI century, with a Greek inscription: it is the memorial stone of a merchant who lived and was buried in Angera, but was born in Syria; the find confirms that people have been moving around the entire known world since ancient times.  Under the portico on the ground floor, is a Lapidario, with statues, altars, and fragments of memorial, accessible also to visually impaired visitors.

The rooms are also home to MABA, Museo Archeologico dei Bambini – Angera, a colourful display created specifically for children, and to help them feel at ease in an accessible environment, where they can find illustrated descriptions, stools to stand on, books, and games, in order to learn together with their parents.

The Museo Archeologico is located in Palazzo del Pretorio, a building from the Fifteenth century accessed from Via Marconi through an arched doorway made in Angera stone.

The northern side of the small courtyard is decorated with a portico supported on local Angera stone columns, topped with capitals decorated with shields and leaves. 

In the Eighteenth century it was the town hall, then in the Nineteenth century it became the magistrates’ court. At the beginning of the Twentieth century, it became the Council Hall, which was then moved after the war. Since 1982, the building has been home to the museum on the ground floor, with its collection of artefacts on the origins and history of Angera.


Opening hours

  

Take me here: Civico Museo Archeologico in Angera

Places

Angera

A splendid lakeside walk and picturesque charm in the province of Varese
  • Villages
Angera
141 mt

Angera

  • Art & Culture
Angera
361 mt

Borromeo Castle, the Museum of Children’s Clothing and the Doll and Toy Museum

  • Art & Culture
Borromeo Castle, the Museum of Children’s Clothing and the Doll and Toy Museum
361 mt

Rocca Borromeo

What strike visitors of Rocca Borromeo, located on the southern shore of Lake Maggiore,is the architectural harmony of its five buildings
  • Art & Culture
Rocca Borromeo
413 mt

Relive your childhood at the Toys Museum

  • Art & Culture
Toys Museum, Museums Varese
425 mt

Rocca di Angera

  • Art & Culture
Rocca di Angera
428 mt

Ispra

  • Lakes
Ispra
5.28 km

The Abbey of San Donato

In Sesto Calende the beautiful and ancient Romanesque church is worth a visit
  • Religious Tourism
Visit the Abbey of San Donato in Sesto Calende
6.48 km

Lake Monate

  • Lakes
Lake Monate
7.15 km

Golf dei Laghi

The undulating of the Golf dei Laghi, hilly course offers breathtaking views of Monte Rosa and Lake Maggiore, making the game enjoyable.
  • Golf
Golf dei Laghi, Travedona Monate (VA)
7.91 km

Lake Comabbio | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Lakes
Lake Comabbio | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
9.06 km

The hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso

  • Religious Tourism
The hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso
11.52 km

Prehistoric Alpine Stilt Houses

  • Unesco Sites
Palafitte Arco Alpino
11.77 km

Leggiuno

  • Villages
Leggiuno
11.78 km

Necropoli di Caravate

Complesso di quattordici sepolture a inumazione fra l’VIII e il IX secolo
  • Art & Culture
Necropoli di Caravate
13.11 km

Lago di Varese

Liberty villas, gardens on the lake, itineraries in the woods. And an islet with stilts from the Neolithic. Discover the Lake of Varese
  • Lakes
Lago di Varese
13.52 km

Church of the invention of santo stefano

  • Religious Tourism
Church of the Invention of Santo Stefano
13.62 km

International museum of ceramic design

  • Art & Culture
International Museum of Ceramic Design
13.93 km

Castello Visconti di San Vito

  • Art & Culture
Castello Visconti di San Vito
14.07 km

Visconti di San Vito Castle (Somma Lombardo) | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Art & Culture
Visconti di San Vito Castle (Somma Lombardo) | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
14.07 km

Events

Italian Open Water Tour: Monate

Via Binda, 2, Monate (VA)
25/06/2023
  • Active & Green
Italian Open Water Tour: Monate
8.15 km

Rowing: International Para-Rowing Regatta

Lido di Gavirate, Varese
09/06/2023 - 11/06/2023
  • Active & Green
Rowing: International Para-Rowing Regatta
13.24 km

Activities

Italian cooking class

  • Food & Wine
Italian cooking class
5.75 km

Bike Tour around the Lakes of Comabbio and Varese

  • Cycle Tourism
Bike Tour around the Lakes of Comabbio and Varese
7.74 km

Where to sleep

LA ROCCA

Angera
LA ROCCA
80 mt

CASA VACANZE IL TULIPANO

Angera
CASA VACANZE IL TULIPANO
83 mt

CASA VACANZE IL GIRASOLE

Angera
CASA VACANZE IL GIRASOLE
83 mt

CASA VACANZE IL GIRASOLE

Angera
CASA VACANZE IL GIRASOLE
83 mt

CASA VACANZE IL TULIPANO

Angera
CASA VACANZE IL TULIPANO
83 mt

GARIBALDI 1

Angera
GARIBALDI 1
96 mt

HOTEL PONTI&PONTI

Angera
HOTEL PONTI&PONTI
192 mt

ALBERGO PAVONE

Angera
ALBERGO PAVONE
201 mt

HOTEL DEI TIGLI

Angera
HOTEL DEI TIGLI
283 mt

ATTICO 180°

Angera
ATTICO 180°
1.05 km

HOTEL RISTORANTE LIDO

Angera
HOTEL RISTORANTE LIDO
1.08 km

IL GLICINE

Angera
IL GLICINE
1.4 km

CAMPING CITTà DI ANGERA

Angera
CAMPING CITTà DI ANGERA
1.46 km

CASCINA ARMONIA

Angera
CASCINA ARMONIA
1.81 km

B&B BLU RESORT

Ranco
B&B BLU RESORT
1.97 km

LE ORTENSIE SUL LAGO

Ranco
LE ORTENSIE SUL LAGO
2.26 km

B&B LETIZIA

Ranco
B&B LETIZIA
2.34 km

VILLA GIANNA SU RANCO

Ranco
VILLA GIANNA SU RANCO
2.38 km

AGRICAMPEGGIO LAGO MAGGIORE SASS CAVALASC

Ranco
AGRICAMPEGGIO LAGO MAGGIORE SASS CAVALASC
2.51 km

VILLA LA PASTORALE

Ranco
VILLA LA PASTORALE
2.63 km