The temple of Augusteum was discovered entirely by accident during an investigation of the village's foundation layer in 1995.
The collection includes a rare, nearly complete marble head of Augustus, found preserved due to the specific soil conditions.
The site was once a major Roman port city and a strategic commercial hub on the eastern Adriatic coast.
Many of the exhibited statues were found in fragments and required extensive reconstruction by expert restorers.
The museum architecture won the Croatian Architecture Award for the most successful architectural work in 2007.
Before the temple was built, the location served as a site for earlier Hellenistic architectural structures.
The museum's glass-walled design allows natural light to interact with the excavated Roman ruins throughout the day.
Arheološki muzej Narona is the first 'in-situ' museum in Croatia, built directly over the remains of an ancient Roman temple. The museum houses the Augusteum, a monumental temple dedicated to the Roman imperial cult. Excavations uncovered 17 marble statues of Roman emperors and their family members, which were shattered during the temple's collapse in the late 4th century. The museum structure physically incorporates the original temple foundations and walls. Visitors walk on glass walkways suspended above the archaeological site. The site is located in the village of Vid, near the confluence of the Norin River and the Neretva. It displays over 900 artifacts, including pottery, jewelry, and coins, documenting the 2,000-year history of the Roman colony Narona. The institution serves as a research and conservation hub for the Neretva Valley region.
The main exhibition hall, from the upper viewing platform, provides the best perspective of the Augusteum statues against the backdrop of the Roman walls.
Combine your visit with a short boat trip on the nearby Norin River for a view of the wetlands.
Speak with the museum staff to learn about the specific restoration process of the marble statues.
Check the local events calendar, as the museum plaza often hosts cultural summer performances.
Do not attempt to walk through the excavation site directly; always remain on the designated viewing platforms.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Respect the archaeological glass flooring; do not lean on or place heavy items on display cases.
