Museums, monuments and historical archives Bureau

addr.:  Viale Risorgimento, 3  00041 Albano Laziale (Roma)

tel.:  + 39.06.9323490    fax :  + 39.06.9325759

website:  www.museicivicialbano.it     e-mail: direttore@museicivicialbano.it

Villa  Ferrajoli  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  MUSEUM

The prestigious seat of the Museum was designed by F. Gasparoni ca. 1834, after the taste of the neoclassical style, as the elegant four-columned Pronos of the façade demonstrates.

Inner rooms still show the delicate pictorial decoration by G. B. Caretti.

The Museum is devided into 23 exhibition halls on three floors and has an archaeological park annex.  A collection of finds from the Paleolithic Age to the Early Renaissance is illustrated by good didactic aids.

Funerary finds from the necropolis of “The Second Parthian Legion” are exposed in the archaeological park at the back of the building.

Visiting hours

 9.00 - 13.00  daily (including Sunday)

 8.00 - 13.00  Saturdays

15.30 -19.00  only on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Entrance fee to each of the museums or monuments

€    2.50  (per person)

€    2.00  for over-sixty years of age and members of groups of over 20 people

€  12.00  for a whole school-class

€    6.00  museum and two monuments of your choice

Additional services

Groups and classes of students can book guided tours of the museums and monuments.

Audio-guides are available in Italian, English, French and German.

Educational videos are available at the Museum conference hall.

Scientific and historical-archaeological library.

Class-room for practical exercises.

Sale of scientific and didactic publications (documents and supplements of Albano), postcards and reproductions of old prints, free illustrated brochures.

Members of the association: Friends and Collaborators of the Museum are available for help Thursdays  16.30 – 19.00  at the Museum entrance.

You can visit the following monuments by applying at the Museum:

THE  AMPHITHEATRE

Emperor Settimio Severo had it built as a recreational ground for the soldiers. It could hold about 16000 spectators  (3^rd cent. A.D.)

THE  CATACOMBS  OF  S.  SENATORE

They are the largest catacombs outside Rome, at the 15^th mile of “Via Appia Antica”, where you can see frescoes of the 5^th, 6^th and 11^th cent. A.D.

THE  HISTORICAL  CEMETERY

The Bishop of Albano Cardinal Giovanni Fratesco Falzacappa had it built nearby “S. Maria della Stella” church in 1833.  Also victims of cholera epidemics, which spread in Albano in 1835 and 1867, were buried here.

THE  “CISTERNONI”  ( = big  cisterns )

Large reservoir of water which supplied the Second Parthian Legion camp; it is the only one still working with the original roman aqueduct.  It can contain about 10 million litres of water (end 2^nd - 3^rd  cent. A.D.)

THE  SEPULCHRE  KNOWN  AS  “TOMBA DEGLI ORAZI E CURIAZI”

It is a monumental sepulchre at the edge of “Via Appia Antica” nearby the Catacumbs .

It derives its shape from the urns of Volterra.   Late Republican Age  (1^st cent. b. C.)

THE  “ROTONDA”

Formerly a “nimphaeum” of Emperor Domiziano’s Villa (1^st cent. A.D.);  it was converted into thermae for the Second Parthian Legion officers (3^rd cent. A.D.), eventually consecrated as “Sanctuary of S. Maria della Rotonda” in 1060.

THE  IMPERIAL  VILLA   formerly belonging to  POMPEIUS   MAGNUS

You may visit the remains of this large Villa inside the municipal park Known as “Villa Doria”.

Upon request you may visit the “Cisternoni” (see above) and also the crypto-porticoes  (1^st cent. b. C. – 4^th cent. A.D.)

THE  “VILLA  AI  CAVALLACCI”

The big residential Villa is located between “Via Verdi” and “Via Mascagni”.  Its building structure with marble and mosaic flooring is still preserved  (1^st cent. b. C. – 4^th cent. A.D.)

THE  SECOND  PARTHIAN  LEGION  MUSEUM   (IN  PREPARATION)

The Museum is located in part of the thermae which Emperor Caracalla had built for the legionaries.

It was dedicated to the Second Parthian Legion which Emperor Settimio Severo had settled in Albano.

The Museum leads you through: aspects of daily life, the Severi dynasty, armament reconstruction of the main military figures, the necropolis.

An interactive multimedia point, a movie show room and an out-door space for practical experimentation are provided by the Museum as a good didactic support.

While waiting for the Museum to be opened its rooms are now used for exhibitions, conferences and cultural activities.

Addr.:  Via Volontari del Sangue,11/13    00041 Albano Laziale (Roma)

Tel.:  + 39. 06. 93263159