The centuries-old history of Villamaina has been studied and understood for the archaeological finds collections, which are silent witness of times when its inhabitants acted as protagonists of history. Here there are artefacts dating back to the period between the deep Republican age and the first imperial age (5th century BC – 3rd century AC).
The first two rooms of the new museum are dedicated to this period and are organized in a chronological order showing fragments of ceramics painted in black varnish. There are also architectural finds and a protoma in the shape of a wolf’s head used as dripstone. This type of protoma was a symbol of old legends and beliefs of Italic people and they were part of the republican age. Moreover, there were bricks, coins and other imperial age finds.
The last two rooms are organized in topics the third room shows the inhabitants’ daily life describing both domestic activities and the trade relations between Villamaina and the rest of the Roman empire. The fourth room contains the important Roman lapidarium which is an epigraphic corpus, created by the brilliant historian and classicist Theodor Mommsen, particularly crucial to piece historical events of Villamaina together.
The exhibition ends with the immersive room: visitors will be highly engaged through technological tools.
The exhibition ends with the immersive room: visitors will be highly engaged through technological tools. The multimedia setting makes a marvellous narrator, Virgilio, leading visitors through myths and legends of one of the most fascinating and mysterious Italian regions.
Images, sounds, play of lights’ projections on screen will give visitors an evocative and exciting narration and environment. The new location chosen to host the civic collection was dedicated to the cultured citizen of Villamaina, Paolino Macchia, and it is an important part of the town’s history. It is likely to be built between the 16th and the 18th century AC over remains of an old middle age settlement.
The Taverna has been restored many times after the frequent earthquakes which have destroyed this region during centuries. Today, it is a place for culture and meeting in the town.
The project Ad antiqua sine limitibus was funded by the Minister of Culture in order to remove physical and cognitive obstacles in museums, libraries and archives to improve accessibility and participation to cultural activities.
Thanks to this initiative, the Paolino Macchia Civic Museum has found a new home.
The new exhibition showcases the collection of archaeological finds discovered in this area, silent witnesses to a thousand-year history. New equipment, accessible and inclusive educational tools, and other technological aids makes the MAV - Museo Archeologico di Villamaina - a place to experience a new engaging and stimulating, form of museum’s fruition.