The Winged Horses panel was originally part of the pediment of the Ara della Regina temple.
The collection includes the Sarcophagus of the Magnate, which displays intricate anatomical detailing of the deceased.
Palazzo Vitelleschi was commissioned by Cardinal Giovanni Vitelleschi, a prominent military commander of the 15th century.
The museum holds a significant collection of 'Bucchero' ware, a distinctively black, polished Etruscan pottery style.
Some exhibits were retrieved from the necropolis during excavations that began as early as the 19th century.
The museum serves as the administrative center for the management of the Monterozzi necropolis site.
The National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia is housed within the 15th-century Palazzo Vitelleschi and serves as the primary repository for artifacts discovered in the nearby Monterozzi necropolis. The collection centers on a world-renowned assemblage of Etruscan funerary art, featuring terracotta sculptures and sarcophagi. Its most celebrated exhibit is the Winged Horses, a high-relief terracotta slab dating back to the 4th century BCE. The museum spans several floors, displaying Greek pottery alongside local Etruscan craftsmanship. Visitors can observe the transition of artistic styles from the Geometric period through the Hellenistic era. The architecture of the Palazzo itself features a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance elements, including an internal courtyard with a loggia. It provides the essential context for the UNESCO-listed painted tombs located outside the city walls. This institution remains the most significant archaeological site in the Maremma region regarding pre-Roman history.
The internal courtyard loggia of the Palazzo Vitelleschi offers excellent lighting and architectural framing.
Combine your museum visit with a trip to the Monterozzi necropolis, as the artifacts here provide necessary context for the painted tombs.
Ask for the combined ticket options, which often include access to both the museum and the tomb site.
Allocate time to walk through the internal courtyard to view the architectural details of the palazzo.
Do not attempt to walk to the Monterozzi necropolis immediately after the museum; it is located on a hilltop outside the city center and requires a vehicle or a lengthy uphill walk.
Closed on Mondays.
Flash photography is prohibited in areas containing delicate painted artifacts.
