Housed since 1969 in a small building on Via Risorgimento, in the historic center of the city of Crotone, the National Archaeological Museum is among the richest and most fortunate in Calabria for the abundance of materials exhibited and for their intrinsic historical and artistic value. Located just a few steps from the Castle of Charles V, the National Museum is organized on two overall floors, with a display garden at the entrance. Among the most important finds are those from the excavation area of ancient Kroton and the mythical Heraion Lakinion, on the Cape Colonna promontory, where the Homonymous Archaeological Park is located.
In the small outdoor garden on the ground floor, at the museum entrance, there are two large thermal stone basins made of labra stone, coming from the cargo of a ship found in the waters of the Marine Reserve near Punta Scifo. The cargo came from Asia Minor and dates back to the 3rd century AD. On the ground floor of the museum there is a small bookshop next to the ticket office. The artifacts are displayed in chronological order starting from the prehistoric phase which exhibits axes and stone weapons, a human skull, and agricultural tools. The Iron Age section offers rich funerary furnishings and artifacts from the provincial area of Crotone. A section dedicated to Greek vase production presents vases and amphorae of rare craftsmanship, distinguished according to origin: Corinthian, Chalcidian, Attic, and Italiote. On the first floor of the National Archaeological Museum, the finds made in the urban area of Crotone are displayed with a topographical approach with charts and plans that perfectly reproduce the exact location of the discoveries and the current city excavations. An entire room is dedicated to the artifacts from the famous Sanctuary of Hera Lacinia and the various votive objects found, which make up the famous Treasure of the goddess. The Treasure of Hera consists of precious votive objects in gold, bronze, and marble, discovered near the sanctuary during the excavations in the Capo Colonna Archaeological Park. Among these objects, for historical and artistic interest, stand out the splendid Golden Diadem dedicated to the goddess Hera Lacinia, protector of the people of Crotone and beyond, and the mysterious and even more intriguing Bronze Nuragic Boat from the 7th century BC, whose provenance remains uncertain, with its vicissitudes wrapped in mystery.
Another section of the National Archaeological Museum is dedicated to discoveries from ancient Krimisa, today’s Cirò Marina, with a series of sandstone capitals from the Temple of Apollo Aleo, as well as votive terracottas and various decorative marbles from doors and beams coming from public buildings.
Information about the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone
Via Risorgimento, 14
88074 Crotone (Crotone)
096223082 0962905625
https://www.archeocalabria.beniculturali.it/archeovirtualtour/calabriaweb/crotone5.htm
Source: MIBACT
