Museo Archeologico, Montepulciano Travel Guide

The Museo Archeologico delle Acque in Chianciano Terme, situated in a former 19th-century granary, showcases a rich collection of archaeological finds from the local area, with a focus on the Etruscan civilization. The museum is renowned for holding the world's most significant collection of Etruscan canopic jars, which are human-shaped cinerary urns used to store the ashes of prominent individuals.The museum's exhibits are spread across four floors, organized into thematic sections that illustrate various aspects of Etruscan life and death. Visitors can explore reconstructions of burial sites and displays of grave goods, including pottery, ceramics, and bronze artifacts dating back to the 6th and 5th centuries BC, a period of significant development for the city. The collection of canopic jars from the Tolle necropolis is particularly noteworthy. Later Hellenistic-era artifacts include alabaster cinerary urns and reconstructed wine-making areas from a farm near Poggio Bacherinae. A monumental terracotta pediment from a sacred building in the Astrone valley, dedicated to a health deity, is also on display.The museum also highlights the use of Chianciano's springs during Roman times, when luxurious villas and thermal bath buildings were constructed. The museum is accessible to visitors with disabilities, featuring a tactile pathway for the visually impaired.