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Luigi Ceselli Museum in Subiaco: the collection born out of a gift, in the heart of the monastery
In the Monastery of Santa Scolastica there is a remarkable collection called the Luigi Ceselli Museum. Its story begins with one man's passion and his vast collection of prehistoric and archaeological finds. Donated in 1882 by his heirs to the monks, this collection has since been merged with artefacts from the nearby villa of Emperor Nero.
A story of family and recovery
It all begins with the private collection of Luigi Ceselli, a captain in the Pontifical Engineer Corps in the mid-19th century. His son Marco donated the collection to the Abbey, in memory of his father and his uncle, who was a monk. It is a story of deep affection. But the journey was not without turbulence. The bombings of 23 May 1944 severely damaged the monastery, scattering part of the collection.
The rebirth and Nero's artefacts
Only in the 1970s did patient recovery and cataloguing work begin. The museum as we see it today — inaugurated in its new form in the year 2000 — brings together prehistoric materials from the Ceselli collection with the finds from Nero’s Villa. Here, visitors can observe up close the capitals, sculpture fragments and inscriptions that tell the story of life and luxury of two thousand years ago.
The museum is part of the Monastery of Santa Scolastica visiting route. Visits are guided. For opening hours and entry information, which may vary, it is recommended to consult the official website of the monastery or contact it by phone.
