The Archaeological Museum of Taormina is housed in the Palazzo della Badia Vecchia, a historic building dating back to the 14th century. The collection consists of both Greek and Roman objects and includes sculptures, vases and glass urns as well as sarcophagi.
A brief history of the Archaeological Museum of Taormina
The museum’s collection consists of objects from the Hellenistic period (4th century BC) and the subsequent Roman era.
The collection is spread over three rooms.
The highlight is the statue of the priestess of Isis from the 2nd century AD. The cult of Isis and Osiris, Egyptian gods, also existed in the Roman Empire.
Several amphorae found in the Ionian Sea have also been found.
Among the objects from Tauremenion, the settlement founded by the Greeks from Naxos that would later grow into Taormina, is a so-called telamon. A telamon, or atlant, is a column in the shape of a man.
The next room contains two Roman statues. The first one depicts Apollo, the second one Hercules.
The marble sarcophagus on the second floor dates from the 2nd century AD. The figures depicted are enjoying themselves and show characters usually depicted with Bacchus (the god of wine and drunkenness), such as Satyrs and Mainades. The former are depicted playing the flute, the latter (female followers of Bacchus) dancing.
On this floor, there are also objects from the Middle Ages, as well as Greek and Byzantine gold jewellery.
Palazzo della Badia Vecchia
The Gothic Palazzo della Badia Vecchia is an attraction in itself. The building, which has beautiful pointed windows, was probably originally intended as an abbey.
Nuttige informatie
Address: Via Circonvallazione, 30 – Taormina. Phone: +39 0942 620112. Opening times: Tuesdays to Saturdays from 09:00 till 20:00. Admission: Free.
(Note that the opening times may be subject to change.)