Address: Via Portigiani, 1 - Fiesole
Fiesole was an important Etruscan centre and was modified in
the Roman period under Silla (80 BC), enjoying a period of great
splendour with the building of many architectural complexes which
began to be rediscovered in the eighteenth century.
In 1792 the remains of the Roman theatre were found, followed in
1800 by the "cavea". Various insciptions and columns
came to light showing first the temple and baths then the first
Etruscan installations. From 1911 the restoration of the theatre
revealed the vomitory and the seating for around three thousand
spectators. Dateable to the last quarter of the first century BC
on the basis of ceramic fragments found there and on the mural
technique, the theatre still houses drama and film performances
during the "Estate Fiesolona".
The baths too reveal a fairly complex and advanced plan, complete
with gymnasium, hot and cold baths and so on, while the Roman
temple built on its Etruscan predecessor, is surrounded by an
eighth century necropolis from which remains are found in the
museum. The museum, in Neo-classical style, was built in 1914 in
the form of an ionic temple whose decoration with casts and
imitation Roman and Etruscan detail gives the illusion of great
age.
The exhibits come from local excavations and gifts and consist
mostly of inscriptions, vases and sepulchral statuary, although
there are also Etruscan urns in terracotta and alabaster, votive
bronzes, coins, amphoras and vases. Some busts of the Roman
period are on show, mainly of emperors and matrons, together with
broken statuary and a piece of the "pulpitum" frieze of
the theatre.
