Founded in 1800 by Viceroy Charles Felix and Chevalier Lodovico Baylle as a cabinet of natural history and archaeology, the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari is the primary archaeological institution in Sardinia. Curated initially by Chevalier De Prunner, the collection opened to the public in 1802 and occupied various historic sites—including Palazzo Belgrano, Palazzo Vivanet, and a former mint building arranged by archaeologist Antonio Taramelli—before moving to its present site in 1993. The museum occupies a former military armory in the Cittadella dei Musei complex, redesigned by architects Piero Gazzola and Libero Cecchini.
What to see
The display spans four floors. The first floor follows a chronological sequence from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine era, exhibiting stone female figurines, Nuragic bronze statuettes, Carthaginian goldwork, Roman ceramics, Byzantine jewelry, and the Nora Stone, alongside a reconstruction of the tophet of Tharros. The second and third floors focus topographically on major archaeological sites across the provinces of Cagliari and Oristano. The top floor is reserved for temporary exhibitions. A pentagonal room houses a series of anatomical wax models sculpted in Florence by Clemente Susini between 1801 and 1805, based on anatomical dissections by Francesco Antonio Boi.
Visiting
The visiting route begins on the first floor with the chronological collection, moves through the topographical sections highlighting local Sardinian excavations, and includes access to the pentagonal anatomical wax gallery and upper temporary exhibition space.
Our editors' tip
Focus closely on the Nora Stone and the Nuragic bronze figurines on the first floor to grasp the early historical context of the island before exploring the topographical galleries above.