The museum, in a 16th century palace built for Pope Julius III, focuses on pre-Roman exhibits, including gold and silver works from Assyria, Egypt, Greece and, nearer home, the Etruscan civilisation of central Italy that flourished from 900 BC-100 AD. In gold, the Etruscan ornaments are outstanding, especially those decorated with delicate granulation, a technique the Etruscans perfected. The most dramatic is an ornament made of long cylindrical granulated pieces supported by winged beasts, sphinxes and lions in stamped and granulated gold. Look out also for a necklace of thick, tubular shaped gold chain mesh with a golden head of Achelous, dating before 300 BC, and a pair of gold pendant earrings with women's heads and engraved hair.

See also Etruscan ornaments in Museo Archeologico, Florence.

Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia
Piazzale di Villa Giulia 9
00196 Rome
Italy

Tel.     +39 06 322 6571 or 320 1706
Fax     +39 06 320 2010
Web    www.roma2000.it/vilagiul.html
           
Open

Tuesday to Saturday 9 - 19.00
Sunday 9 - 20.00
Closed Monday