Siritide National Museum
The Siritide National Museum (Museo Nazionale della Siritide) in Policoro, Basilicata, preserves one of southern Italy’s most important archaeological collections relating to the ancient Greek colonies of Siris and Herakleia Lucana. Housed in the medieval Palazzo Siripando, it documents more than two millennia of settlement on the Ionian coast of Basilicata, from Bronze Age occupation through Magna Graecia and the Roman period.
At a glance
- Type
- State archaeological museum
- Period covered
- Bronze Age through Roman Imperial period (c. 1500 BCE – 4th century CE)
- Style
- Medieval palace repurposed as museum
- Location
- Policoro, Province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy
- Coordinates
- 40.2175° N, 16.6696° E
Overview
The Siritide National Museum takes its name from the ancient territory of Siritide, the fertile coastal plain where the Greek colony of Siris was founded around the 7th century BCE. The museum is the principal repository for finds excavated from Policoro and the surrounding area since systematic archaeological work began in the 1960s. Its collections are recognised as a primary source for understanding the culture, trade networks, and artistic production of Magna Graecia in Basilicata.
History
The site of ancient Siris was first colonised by Greeks from Asia Minor, traditionally identified as Colophonians, before being refounded as Herakleia Lucana around 433 BCE as a joint colony of Thurii and Tarentum. Scientific excavations at Policoro began under the direction of Dinu Adamesteanu in 1961, quickly revealing rich votive deposits, necropolis areas, and urban remains. The museum was established to house and display these finds, opening in Palazzo Siripando, a structure with medieval origins that was adapted for its museological function during the latter half of the 20th century.
What you see
The museum’s galleries display an extensive range of artefacts spanning more than two thousand years of occupation. Highlights include fine painted Attic and South Italian pottery, terracotta votive figurines, bronze weapons and tools, gold jewellery from aristocratic burials, and architectural terracottas from temple structures. A dedicated section presents the famed Policoro Krater, an Attic red-figure vessel of the late 5th century BCE depicting mythological scenes. The medieval building itself contributes a layered sense of history to the visit.
Cultural significance
The Siritide National Museum is central to scholarly understanding of Greek colonisation patterns and the cultural exchanges between Greek settlers and indigenous Lucanian populations in southern Italy. Its collections illustrate how Magna Graecia artistic traditions evolved and merged with local Italic culture across several centuries. The museum is a key node in the broader network of archaeological sites and museums along Basilicata’s Ionian coast.
Practical information
- Address
- Via Colombo, 8, 75025 Policoro MT, Italy
- Hours
- Check official website for current opening times
- Admission
- Check official website for current ticket prices
- Contact
- Managed by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC), Polo Museale della Basilicata
Getting there
Policoro is located on the SS106 Ionian coastal highway in Basilicata. By car, exit at Policoro from the SS106 and follow signs for the museum in the town centre. The nearest railway station is Policoro-Tursi on the Taranto–Reggio Calabria line; the museum is approximately 2 km from the station. Intercity buses connect Policoro with Matera, Potenza, and major Basilicata towns.