Guarnacci Etruscan Museum

At the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum in Volterra, visitors can discover the culture of an ancient people: the Etruscans.

Over 600 funerary urns made of tuff, terracotta, and alabaster, along with vases and tools, offer a fascinating glimpse into the life and work of the Etruscans, who once inhabited central Italy. Most of the artifacts on display come from the extraordinary archaeological collection assembled over the years by the archaeologist and abbot Mario Guarnacci (1701–1785), who later donated it to his hometown, Volterra.

Founded in 1761, the museum is one of the oldest public museums in Europe. It houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Etruscan art in Italy and has been located in Palazzo Desideri Tangassi, near the Medici Fortress, since 1877.

Artifacts of extraordinary importance

One of the most important artifacts is the lid of an urn, known as the “Urn of the Bride and Groom.” It depicts an elderly couple seated on a reclining couch. What makes this object unique is that it was crafted from terracotta, a natural material that was rarely used in the Mediterranean region at the time. Another highlight is the Shadow of the Evening, one of the most famous sculptures in Etruscan art. The bronze votive figure, which resembles a human shadow in the evening sunlight, likely dates back to the 3rd century B.C.