The Antiquarium is located in the medieval center of Fossato di Vico.
It is housed in the building that was the first seat of the Municipality and later hosted the municipal theater.
Visiting the civic collection of Fossato di Vico offers an opportunity to learn about life in an area whose prosperity and centrality come from its favorable position near several major traffic routes that crossed here. It was effectively situated along the path of the Flaminia consular road, opened in 220 B.C., of which important traces remain of its bridges that served to cross now-disappeared watercourses. The exhibited objects show that the small town was lively from the prehistoric age through late antiquity, and is consistently mentioned in Roman itineraries, the travel guides that contained directions on roads, distances, and urban centers.
Opened in 2001, it is located on the upper floor of the medieval building that once served as the Municipality and municipal theater. Divided into two rooms, it focuses on the history of the territory and the development of Fossato di Vico, the ancient Helvillum, established near the Fossato pass (740 m a.s.l.), which since prehistoric times was functional for connecting the Appennine summer pastures with the Adriatic coast winter pastures. In the first room, the territory is illustrated by ancient geographical maps, charts, and views from the 16th to the 19th century, as well as a small selection of objects from the Roman age to the modern age. Then follow chronologically ordered finds and also materials and architectural elements recovered from old excavations on the hilltop, pertaining to a domus and a cistern from the late 1st century B.C.
Regarding the ancient road routes that directly involved Fossato di Vico, it is recommended to visit the remains of the Roman bridges near the Palazzolo locality, south of the town, and to the north, at the foot of the village where the San Giovanni bridge is visible: both indicate the ancient path of the Flaminia road, which in this area was located slightly west of the current state road.
Information about Fossato di Vico Municipal Antiquarium
Via Mazzini, 16
06022 Fossato di Vico (Perugia)
075914951
sociali.comfossato@tiscali.it
Source: MIBACT
