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Museo Lapidario Estense: Echoes of Roman Modena

Explore Modena's Roman past through sarcophagi, inscriptions, and ancient artifacts at the Museo Lapidario Estense, located in the Palazzo dei Musei.

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Housed within the Palazzo dei Musei, the Museo Lapidario Estense displays a remarkable collection of Roman artifacts, including sarcophagi, funerary monuments, and inscriptions, offering a glimpse into Modena's ancient past as the Roman colony of Mutina.

A brief summary to Museo Lapidario Estense

  • Monday 8 am-7:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8 am-7:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8 am-7:30 pm
  • Thursday 8 am-7:30 pm
  • Friday 8 am-7:30 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am-7:30 pm
  • Sunday 10 am-7:30 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during the first Sunday of the month for free admission.
  • Take advantage of the multilingual tablet guide for an enriched experience.
  • Check the official website for the most up-to-date opening hours.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Modena train station, walk straight ahead through Piazza Dante Alighieri and turn onto Via Francesco Crispi. Continue onto Viale Monte Kosica, then turn left onto Viale Berengario. Continue until you reach Largo Porta Sant'Agostino, where the Palazzo dei Musei is located. The Museo Lapidario Estense is on the ground floor. The walk is approximately 15-20 minutes.

  • Public Transport

    From the Modena train station, take bus lines 2, 9, 13, 500, or 820 to Largo di Porta Sant'Agostino. The Palazzo dei Musei will be in sight. The Museo Lapidario Estense is located on the ground floor. A single urban ride costs €1.50, and you can also purchase a ticket directly on the bus using a contactless credit card.

  • Taxi

    From the Modena train station, a taxi to the Palazzo dei Musei will cost approximately €10-15, depending on traffic and time of day.

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Discover more about Museo Lapidario Estense

The Museo Lapidario Estense, established in 1828 by Duke Francesco IV d'Austria-Este, stands as Modena's first public museum, with the goal of celebrating the city's rich history dating back to Roman times. Inspired by renowned lapidary museums, it was founded as the 'Museo Lapidario Modenese'. The museum's collection began with pieces from the Este family collection and was enriched by archaeological finds from Modena and Reggio Emilia. Citizens, including clergy and nobility, contributed to its growth. The collection features a variety of stone artifacts, including funerary monuments, Roman sarcophagi from Ravenna dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, reliefs, and carved slabs. The museum is located in the ground-floor quadrangle of the Palazzo dei Musei. The collection includes Roman honorary bases, public epigraphs, dedications to deities, and a series of tombs, altars, and sarcophagi adorned with portraits and figurative scenes. The medieval and Renaissance sections showcase the reuse of ancient sarcophagi and subsequent imitations, documenting the lives of notable Modenese figures. A multilingual tablet guide enhances the visitor experience with texts, audio commentary, and photo galleries.

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