Nonostante il castello venga detto Normanno-Svevo, la sua prima fase costruttiva non risale ai tempi di Ruggero I come è tramandato dalle tradizioni popolari, ma all’epoca di Federico II; venne ampliato sempre nel XIII secolo dagli Angioini. Nel ‘500 subì qualche leggera modifica per l’adattamento a residenza. Danneggiato da un terremoto alla fine del XVIII secolo, venne utilizzato come prigione. Dal 1969 ospita il Museo archeologico statale, intitolato al conte Vito Capialbi, che nel XIX secolo fu studioso e archeologo della zona.
The current setup follows a chronological and topographical order and includes materials from the city and the surrounding archaeological areas, enriched by some 19th- and 20th-century collections donated by local scholars.
The museum is divided into four main sections: artifacts from sacred buildings, necropolises, private collections, and Roman age materials.
The exhibition begins with objects from the protohistoric age, the result of excavations in the area, such as that of an Eneolithic hut. There is a 13th century BC sword, accidentally found near a 6th century BC tomb. On the first floor, artifacts from the four sacred areas of the Magna Graecia city are exhibited, including:
From the Scrimbia district come artifacts datable between the late 7th and late 5th century BC, with Corinthian, Rhodian and Attic ceramics, also large-sized, basins and bronze helmets, votive statuettes and remarkable quality gold, silver and various jewelry, including earrings, rings, fibulae, pins. From the same area also come architectural fragments, datable around 550 BC of a large Doric temple yet to be located.
From Cofino come some pinakes typical of Locri Epizefiri production and two terracotta temple models, rich in details.
The lower floor displays artifacts from necropolises, datable between the late 7th and 4th century BC, among which stands out a gold leaf with an inscription in Doric-Ionic dialect that confirms the Orphic cult, with advice for the deceased in the afterlife. It was found in a woman’s tomb datable between the 5th and 4th century BC.
Artifacts from the Hellenistic necropolis of Piercastello district testify to the presence of the Bruttii in the area, and stand out for the presence of two ceramic warriors from a monumental chamber tomb of the late 3rd century BC.
Among the private antiquarian collections, architectural ceramics stand out, such as archaic terracottas from the Scrimbia sanctuary, palmette and silenic mask antefixes and painted simas. Among the ceramics are Attic red-figure lekythoi.
Interesting is the Capialbi coin holder, which contains some very rare Locrian aurei.
In the last section, dedicated to the Roman era, there are artifacts from Sant’Aloe where various domus and a thermal plant with splendid mosaics were brought to light; moreover, not far from here in the 1970s, a coin hoard of 867 silver Brettian coins datable to the late 3rd century BC was discovered. From this location also come sealed terracotta vases and marble statues, among which stands out a bust of Agrippa, of excellent artistic quality. There are also some Roman age burial kits with very refined decorated lamps, precious glass containers and unguentaria.
In the courtyard is exhibited a 3rd century mosaic, found near the ancient port of the city.
Information about the National Archaeological Museum “Vito Capialbi”
Normanno-Svevo Castle
89900 Vibo Valentia (Vibo Valentia)
096343350
Source: MIBACT
