A8 Milan - "Laghi" toll motorway, Varese exit

The Villa Mirabello Civic Archaeological Museum occupies an important place in Italian and international culture, and hosts one of the major centres of archaeological studies in Italy, the Varese Centre for Prehistoric and Archaeological Studies. The prehistoric and Roman sections are especially interesting.

Villa Mirabella conserves prehistoric material found in the province of Varese from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.  Material from Isolino Virginia and the Neo-Eneolithic settlement of Pizzo di Bodio – Bodio Lomnago (Varese Province), discovered in 1982, has provided some of the oldest datings of the Neolithic in north-western Italy.

In the realm of Proto-history, the Golasecca culture is well-represented, with the exceptional grave goods from the Tomb of the Warrior of Sesto Calende (early 6th cent. B.C.), including remains of his chariot and horse trappings.

The Roman section also comprises material from the local territory, and shows quite clearly how   the local Celtic Cisalpine populations were gradually assimilated into the customs and social, political and administrative organisation of the Roman world; almost all of the material on display comes from burial sites. Among other treasures on display are the exceptional tomb goods of Mercallo dei Sassi and those from the necropolis of Rasa di Velate. The so-called “mummy of Villa Mirabella” from the period between 1594 and 1646 is of great historical interest.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday 9.30 – 12.30 and 14.00 – 17.30 (from 2 November to 31 May); 10.00 – 12.30 and 14.00 – 18.00 (from 1 June to 31 October).

Access:
Closed at Christmas, 1st January, Easter, 1st May, 1st November and every Monday.

2 November - 31 May: 9.30 am / 12.30 pm and 2 pm / 5.30 pm
1 June - 31 October: 10 am / 12.30 am and 2 pm / 6 pm

Price: 3,00