The Museum’s mission is to enhance the Etruscan collections and culture. The value of his works is recognized in Italy and in the world. Other museums and institutions request them on loan for thematic exhibitions. The National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, also known as ETRU, is an Italian state museum dedicated to the Etruscan and Faliscan civilizations housed in the rooms of Villa Giulia and Villa Poniatowski in Rome.
The Museum preserves and exhibits true masterpieces known throughout the world, among which they deserve a mention: THE SARCOPHAGUS OF THE SPOSI, depicts two spouses looking at us. Their embrace evokes a love story and reaches people’s hearts: it is magnetic. We see an enigmatic smile.
It’s an ancient art device called an archaic smile: we didn’t want to reproduce the human smile, but to accentuate facial expressions. The eyes are empty today, but in the sunken surface there must have been color: black and white. Even if we are not used to imagining it, the ancient works of art were brightly colored: in the Museum there are many other works that have preserved traces of color. The two are portrayed in a tender embrace as they are about to drink wine together, one of the most beautiful moments of everyday life that they wanted to continue even after death. It is a scene of life and at the same time of intimacy, depicted on a sarcophagus which contained the remains of the deceased, representing them as if they had never died. The posture of the hands evokes the presence of objects that have been lost: perhaps she was covering herself with ointments, a gesture that could also have a funerary meaning, while he could be carrying garlands or a cup. For the Etruscans it was normal for women to participate in the banquet with equal rights and equal dignity as men, which was not permissible for the Greeks.
Another masterpiece, unique in the world, is represented by the GOLD LAMINE OF PYRGI. These are three gold plates in which bilingual texts are engraved which also include Etruscan; the discovery of the gold plates was of extraordinary importance for improving the understanding of the Etruscan language.
The Museum is in Rome, within the GRA, called it is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 09.00 to 20.00, the rooms close at 19.30, and the last admission is by 19.00.
It is always closed on Mondays, and is closed on 12/25 and 1 January each year
In August, the Villa Poniatowski office is open on Fridays and Saturdays, from 14.00 to 19.00, last admission at 18.30. The ticket can be purchased at the Villa Giulia office and entitles you to enter both structures, the cost of the full ticket is € 10.00 but on the museum website you can find numerous agreements that can entitle you to the reduced ticket www.museoetru.it