The Museum, established on March 5, 1997 by Bishop Antonio Pagano, is divided into two locations: the first, which includes the section dedicated to sacred art, is displayed in the rooms of the Seminary Palace, located in the Municipality of Ischia, and the second, which houses the archaeological section, is part of the complex of the Pontifical Basilica of St. Restituta, located in the Municipality of Lacco Ameno. Sacred Art Section. Divided into five sections (marbles, sculptures, paintings, silverware, and various artifacts); the objects come from the diocese’s churches and in particular from today’s Cathedral, which housed the furnishings of the Cathedral on the Aragonese Castle, bombarded in 1809. Notable is a paleochristian sarcophagus lid with five gospel scenes dated between the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Archaeological Section. An example of the enhancement of an archaeological excavation area later turned into a museum, it illustrates the history of the settlement of Pithecusae from the archaic age to the medieval period. The area (1000 sqm), spread between the building annexed to the Basilica and the area below, is organized into three rooms and four sectors of the excavation site. Rooms I-II-III. Liturgical furnishings, wooden statues of saints, 18th and 19th-century Neapolitan majolica are displayed; interesting are the glazed ceramics with stripes (from the 6th to the 16th century). Sector I. The area, identified as the artisan quarter (keramèikos) of ancient Pithecusae, shows kilns differing in shape, size, and chronology (from the 8th century BC to the Hellenistic period), where pottery, roof tiles, and large containers were produced. At the back are the remains of a Roman-Imperial era necropolis. Sector II. Here is found an “arcosolium” tomb (late antique burial with a lowered arch). A wall in reticulated masonry, graves dug into the floor, and a small structure built with local stone led to the attribution of the area to the 5th-century AD Paleochristian Basilica. Sector III. Prehistoric ceramics, local production of Greek-Archaic ceramics, original and locally imitated Corinthian ceramics from the Classical and Hellenistic periods are displayed. Sector IV. The necropolis covers a wide chronological range from the 2nd-3rd centuries BC (hooded tombs) to the 6th-8th centuries AD (tombs with cover made of discarded roof tiles).
Information about Diocesan Museum of Ischia
Bishop’s Palace Via Seminario, 26 (Sacred Art section); Basilica Santa Restituta- Piazza S. Restitut,
80077 Ischia (Naples)
081 991706 – 081 982708
mudis07@libero.it
Source: MIBACT
