Located in the quadrangle courtyard on the ground floor of the 18th-century Albergo delle Arti, now Palazzo dei Musei, the Estense Lapidary Museum was established in 1828 by Francesco IV of Austria-Este. At this site, epigraphic and historical-artistic artifacts of interest from the city and the ducal territory were gathered to form the first civic museum with educational and promotional aims. For this purpose, works from the Estense collections attracted further donations and acquisitions.
The most important core of the Estense Lapidary is represented by the imposing Roman Imperial sarcophagi transferred from the courtyard of the Cathedral Canons, where they had rested since the late 17th century, and which still constitute the largest series of such artifacts in all of Emilia Romagna. Alongside the significant Roman section, seamlessly follow the medieval and Renaissance section monuments, documenting the reuse of ancient sarcophagi and their subsequent revivals and imitations. This latter section showcases prominent Modenese personalities also belonging to more recent history.
The most important core of the Estense Lapidary is represented by the imposing Roman Imperial sarcophagi transferred from the courtyard of the Cathedral Canons, where they had rested since the late 17th century, and which still constitute the largest series of such artifacts in all of Emilia Romagna. Alongside the significant Roman section, seamlessly follow the medieval and Renaissance section monuments, documenting the reuse of ancient sarcophagi and their subsequent revivals and imitations. This latter section showcases prominent Modenese personalities also belonging to more recent history.
Information about Estense Lapidary Museum
Piazza S. Agostino, 337
41100 Modena (Modena)
059 4395711
sbsae-mo@beniculturali.it
daily from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM
free admission
Source: MIBACT
