National Archaeological Museum of Lomellina
The National Archaeological Museum of Lomellina (Museo Nazionale dell’Agro Lomellino) is located in Vigevano, in the Province of Pavia, Lombardy, and is dedicated to the archaeology of the Lomellina district — the flat, rice-growing territory between the Sesia, Ticino and Po rivers in south-western Lombardy. The museum preserves finds from prehistoric, Celtic, Roman and early medieval settlements discovered in this historically rich agricultural plain.
At a glance
- Type
- National archaeological museum
- Period
- Collections span prehistory through the early medieval period
- Style
- Historic building repurposed as museum
- Location
- Vigevano, Province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.3156° N, 8.8565° E
Overview
The National Archaeological Museum of Lomellina serves as the principal repository for archaeological finds from the Lomellina, a distinctive subregion of the Po Valley in south-western Lombardy. The Lomellina — bounded by the Sesia to the west, the Ticino to the east and the Po to the south — has been continuously inhabited since at least the Bronze Age, and its flat, fertile terrain preserves exceptional evidence of ancient settlement, trade, and agriculture. The museum brings together objects discovered through decades of archaeological fieldwork across this territory.
History
The Lomellina was an important zone of settlement throughout antiquity: inhabited by the Celtic Insubres before Roman conquest, it subsequently became part of the Roman province of Transpadana, with significant villa estates and rural settlements leaving abundant material remains. The museum was established to gather and study finds from excavations conducted across the district, preserving objects that would otherwise have been dispersed or lost. Vigevano, the principal town of the Lomellina and famous for its Renaissance Piazza Ducale, provides an ideal base for exploring the wider cultural landscape of the region.
What you see
The museum’s collections include prehistoric artefacts from the terramare settlements of the Bronze Age, Celtic metalwork and funerary objects, Roman ceramics, glass, coins, and architectural fragments from rural villae and urban centres, and finds from the early medieval Lombard period. Display cases present material evidence of the daily life, religious practices, and economic activities of the populations who farmed and inhabited this stretch of the Po plain across more than three millennia.
Cultural significance
The museum contributes essential documentation of a region whose flat, agricultural character has made systematic archaeological study both possible and rewarding. The Lomellina’s wealth of Roman rural settlement evidence, in particular, offers insight into the organisation of the Po Valley economy in the Imperial period, complementing the better-known urban sites of northern Italy.
Practical information
- Location
- Vigevano, Province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy
- Hours
- Check official website or local tourist office for current opening hours
- Admission
- Check official website for ticket prices
Getting there
Vigevano is approximately 35 km south-west of Milan and is served by regional rail from Milan Porta Genova station (approximately 1 hour). By car, Vigevano is accessible from the A26 motorway. The town is also known for its Renaissance Piazza Ducale, which is worth combining with a visit to the museum.