National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara

The National
Archaeological Museum of Ferrara was inaugurated in 1935 to display artefacts
featuring the ancient world of Spina,
an important ancient emporium during the mid sixth and early third
century B.C.

It is remarkable for the funerary complex, consisting of more than 4000 tombs, from
which one of world’s largest collections of Greek red figure vases
comes from.

The museum is located inside the Palazzo
Costabili, a sixteenth century building called “di Ludovico il Moro”, and has
been brought back to its former magnificence thanks to the restoration of Biagio Rossetti’s architectural
work, and Garofalo and Dosso
Dossi’s frescoes. 

The original structure is completed with the new Museum settings, enriched
on the ground floor with multiprojections, movies and touch-screens
taking visitors through a sensory tour. 

On the first floor the visit continues through the necropolis rooms, the
rooms displaying the dishes to serve fish, craters, jewels and a
sensory space, offering a unique opportunity to touch original objects
surrounded by frescoes, plasterwork and a baroque fireplace. 

The visit ends with the pirogues hall and the neo Renaissance garden.

More other important information could be read on the museum guide: "Spina - From discovery to Museum" (pdf available in Italian and English).

La Sala degli ori (The Hall of Gold Jewellery)

Much of the collection of jewels and artefacts will be on display for the first time. It is a fitting complement to the exhibition of grave furniture from the Spina necropolis.

The goldsmith workshops of Spina, mainly dating from the end of the 5th century BC, testify to a period of generalized affluence in this Etruscan port. They also demonstrate the masterful craftsmanship of its goldsmiths. Gold, silver, amber, semi-precious stones and vitreous glass paste were the materials most prevalently used. In the darkness of the tombs they reflected the power of their owners and the pomp and ceremony that surrounded their use in everyday ritual or on special occasions. Unlike the large numbers of 5th and early 4th century BC Attic vases on display, gold artefacts were an exceptional element of grave furniture in Spina and almost exclusively found alongside women. Finds include amulets made from a variety of materials, and gold trinkets that had been carefully concealed in the tombs. Made almost certainly by local artisans using traditional methods, Spina jewellery nonetheless testifies to the creative flair of their makers and their ability to both adapt and set new fashions. Indeed Spina artisans had that combination of technical and artistic skills that have always been the key to success in the luxury goods world.