museo claudio faina

While this museum is not large in size, its contents are well worth a visit. On the lower level are several rooms featuring Etruscan finds. The upper floors exhibit the collection of the former owner of the palazzo. The palazzo itself is worth the visit. You get a peak at how a wealthier person of a gone by era lived while perusing a vast collection of Roman and Etruscan coins and beautiful pottery.

Directly across the square from the Duomo stands is a palazzo which houses Museo Claudio Faina & Museo Civico. The palazzo was the home of the Faina family from the 1800s until 1954, starting with Claudio Snr and a century later being left to the Municipality of Orvieto by Claudio Jnr. Although the property is noted as a museum, it really is so much more, each room is intricately decorated. The ceilings and walls in each room are embellished in a different manner; even the floor tiles are laid artistically. It may not be to everyone’s taste but this palazzo gives us a look into the lifestyle and decoration of noble families in Italy around the time of Reunification. I think that preservation of buildings such as these is important because they too are a country’s history, which sometimes gets forgotten in favour of older historical pieces. So take the time to notice the room as well as its archaeological pieces, you will be rewarded.The ground floor houses Museo Civico which has a small collection of Etruscan finds, laid out over three rooms. Some pieces that caught my eye were; • The gorgon head from the Temple of Belvedere, • A couple of sarcophagi; one richly carved, • The Cippo Warrior• And although not Etruscan the statue of Pope Boniface VIII. The pieces in the Museo Claudio Faina were originally a private collection which was started by Mauro and Eugenio; the collection was left to the Municipality of Orvieto by Claudio Jnr. upon his death. These were some pieces I found interesting:• The Roman coin collection and ancient jewellery is worth more than a passing glance.• Fabulous red and black pottery collection.• Rare and beautiful black Etruscan Bucchero pottery. It is so timeless, you could put this on today’s table and it wouldn’t look out of place.• Tiny figurine of a little boy dancing.• Wall frescoes.• Etruscan metal cartOf course there’s a whole lot more that you can discover for yourself.From the second floor there are fabulous views of the Duomo’s glittering facade.This is a great museum, which is neither too large nor too small and is well laid out. Entrance E6.00 (September 2014). One ticket covers entrance to both museums.Open daily, except Mondays. 9.30am to 6.00pm (1 April to 30 September) and 10.00am to 5.00pm (1 October to 31 March).Explanations in Italian and English.Has a lift and stairs.Clean toiletsPhotography OK without a flash.

This small museum houses an impressive private collection. The museum is both about the story of the relics and the story of the collectors. Anyone who is into that stuff should visit. An added bonus is the richly decorated building.

As discussed earlier worth a visit an amazing collection of ancient coins was their home which they turned into a museum just across from the Duomo.

This museum features a well selected collection of Etruscan artifacts, with multilingual information, that can begin to involve you in understanding the history of the mediterranean region, and the significant effect this pre-roman culture had on it all. If you aren't familiar with Etruscan culture and arts, do NOT miss this opportunity to understand the fundamentals behind Rome and much of the Med. You'll soon be off to similar adventures of discovery in Rome, Tarquinia, Volterra and Massa Marittima!

This museum is directly across the piazza from the Orvieto Duomo and should be included in your visit for several reasons. The museum is mainly upstairs and has windows that look to the Duomo allowing you to clearly see the designs on the front of the church in a way that is impossible from the ground looking up, secondly the painted rooms, especially the ceilings and the chandeliers bespeak of a time past when elegance surrounded those who could afford us and lastly, the collection is the passion of a man and his son who carefully curated what you will see during the 19th century. They wanted what was found in the area to remain documenting those who lived there; coins both Roman and Etruscan, pottery, bronze work all saved for posterity . It is a lovely look back in time.

This Etruscan museum has much to interest the traveller, especially because the exhibits come from the local area. The Etruscan civilisation was prior to the Romans and the museum has many beautiful examples of their artisan skills.

You know right away that Orvieto is a pottery town. The streets are lined with shops that sell various takes on the traditional medieval and renaissance Magiolica pottery of the region. A lot of it is impressive, some not so much. Having lived in a pottery town in Japan (Bizen) for a number of years I prefer more rustic and austere decoration and the clean lines of the pottery. Whatever your take on ceramic decoration you will be impressed by the wide array of decorated and undecorated Etruscan and beautifully imported ancient Greek pottery at this museum. This museum contains at least three very large signed pieces 2500 years old by one of ancient Greeces most renowned potters. To think that these pieces survived the long sea voyage and then the mountainous trek from the coast to interior Umbria is amazing. What stuck out for me, however, was the sheer elegant beuatiy of the jet black Etruscan Bucchero ware on display. Other attractions include a wide number of Etruscan stone sculptures, including startlingly decorated carved sarcophagi, an amazing gold, glass and amber jewellery display and a fascinating collection of ancient Roman coins. This museum is not too large. Is nicely laid out, has explanations in Italian and English, and is well worth a visit.

Although we heard and read many articles about Orvieto, we do not remember hearing about this Museum, facing the Duomo. The whole collection is superb, considering the fact that it was assembled or collected over 100 years ago, when doing such things was not easy. There are three floors to see and we also had the chance to open a small balcony door to take a photo of the Duomo.

This is a nice sized museum which includes findings from local Etruscan sites. There are vases, coins, plates and jewelry. This museum, which is included in the Orvieto Carta Unica ticket, is closed on Monday.

Well organized with the best multilingual descriptions of any of Orvieto's museums. A first rate collection of Etruscan artifacts.

Three Exechias's vases!Exechias is one of the most famous Greek ceramist: unexpected and precious discovery for me. Absolutely worth visiting.

Not to be missed. This museum in a beautiful palazzo has incredible Etruscan artifacts in it. The material on exhibit is a rare accumulation of many types of items dating back 700 years B.C. It gives a rare view of early Etruscan life in and around Orvieto.

When you finish visiting the ground floor of this museum, you get the wrong feeling that there will be not much more to see. But the other floors keep thousands of articles that you simply must see at least once in your life. There are amazing jewels, pottery, coins, statues. And on top of that, the palace itself is astounding, don't forget to look up as well!!!

When you arrive in Orvieto's spacious Piazza Duomo, the main square in the hill-town of Orvieto (90-minutes by train from Roma Termini), you'll find this interesting three-story museum directly opposite the Orvieto Cathedral. It's in an old Palazzo, and its three floors are packed with thousands of archaeological discoveries from the local area, ranging from fine pottery and sculpture to ancient coins. I was the only visitor, and had the whole place tp myself except for the two women at the ticket office inside the front door. So I could wander through the building taking photos at will. If you're into ancient artifacts, this place will delight you. There's even a reading room upstairs. The building also has a lift (elevator), and toilets; so it's well appointed. Worth the small entry fee.