The National Archaeological Museum Venice is not so big so you can visit it in a reasonable amount of time (1 hour or so). It houses a heterogeneous collection of works:
- Greek sculptures (V-IV century BC)
- Roman busts
- Fragments of funerary stelae and sarcophagi
- Vases and more
If you enter from the Monumental Rooms of the St. Mark’s Library (on the first Sunday of the month, like I did) you will not start from The Archaeological Museum room 1 but form room… mmmh, maybe 4 (I don’t remember). So, to make a right tour, better go in room 1, and start from there.
I am by no means an expert on the subject. So this time I’ll just mention (and post the pictures) the pieces that I liked more. If go, you will find your own favourite pieces during the visit. In each room you will find sheets with explanations and the most important works have a detailed caption.
National Archaeological Museum Venice highlights
- Artemis (27 BC – 14 AD) This statue is original and dynamic, the goddess looks more like a little girl in a hurry yo go and see her friends, smiling to life.
- Demeter and two other statue: I loved the complex draperies that barely conceal beautiful and sinuous shapes.
- Fragment of a funeral stele (IV BC): I liked the lightness of the dress, the gesture of the hand that gently takes a handkerchief.
- Apollo Citaredo ie Apollo playing his lyre, very elegant and refined.
- Statue of Ulysses… simply because I really love this character. Ulysses rules!
- The Ara Grimani: Look the passionate kiss on its side!
- Head of a Child. Gorgeous, moving.
- Bacchante. I loved it, so intense.
- Leda and the Swan (130 AD). I found this statue just wonderful, with Leda caught a moment before the kiss with the Swan.
- Roman busts. Beautiful, and so expressive.
- Some fragments of sarcophagi: true masterpieces of their kind, carved with mastery, with sinuous and plastic forms.
As I said before, archaeology is not really my speciality. On the contrary. So, if you visit Venice for a few days, you can skip it. But if the topic interests you, or if you stay in Venice longer, or, finally, if it is the first Sunday of the month, you can do it 😉
The Archaeological Museum is part of the Museums of St. Mark’s Square: the entrance coincides with that of the Museo Correr, St. Mark’s Square, Napoleonic Wing.
correr.visitmuve.it
www.polomuseale.venezia.beniculturali.it
Opening hours
From 1 April to 31 October 10 am – 7 pm (tickets available until 6)
From 1 November to 31 March 10 am – 5 pm (tickets available until 4)
Closed December 25 and January 1
Tickets
(ST. MARK’S SQUARE MUSEUMS TICKET valid for the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, National Archaeological Museum and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana).
Full Price 18€
Reduced 11€
