24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello

24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello. The Museum recounts the history of the island of Torcello and its relationship with Venice

It is located, in what was the two palaces of the Archives and of the Council.

Reaching its maximum development in the 10th century, Torcello, was before Rialto and Venice; the leading city of the lagoon and a flourishing place dedicated to commerce.

Founded at the end of 19th century, the Provincial Museum of Torcello, is divided into two different sections: the archaeological and the medieval and modern section.

Close by, are the wonderful Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and its bell-tower and the Church of Santa Fosca.

Introduction

Collections

Opening Times – Tickets and Concessions

Top 25 recommended Museums

Links (internal–external)

Archaeological and Venetian History Museum
Located next to Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca
Cost: €3 (adults), €1.50 (reduced)
Suggested duration: 1 hour
Vaporetto stops: Venice Fondamenta Nuovo (Line 12) to Murano – Burano – Torcello. Alternatively take Line 14 from San Zaccaria (close to St Mark’s Square) to Burano and change there to Line 9 for Torcello.

Museo Provinciale di Torcello

History 24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello

In 1870, Luigi Torelli, the prefect of Venice, purchased the Palazzo del Consiglio; to house a centre of archaeological artefacts found in Torcello, its adjacent islands and the nearby mainland.
In 1872, after Torelli had given the building to the Province of Venice; the Museum was founded, assigning the direction to Nicolò Battaglini.
In 1887, Cesare Augusto Levi took over, continuing the collection from the area and added other items; which he gathered during his travels, especially in Rome.
In that same year, he bought the Palazzo dell’Archivio, restored it and moved the archaeological collection there; naming it the “Museo dell’Estuario” and donating it to the provincial authorities.
On May 14 1889, the “Museo Provinciale di Torcello” was inaugurated.

Museo Provinciale di Torcello

In 1909, Levi was succeeded by Luigi Conton, who discovered various necropolis in Adria; from where he probably brought some of his findings to Torcello.
Between 1928 and 1930, the collections were rearranged under the management of Adolfo Callegari, the director until 1948. In his period, inventories, cataloguing and restoration were undertaken; including the publication in 1930, of the catalogue “Il museo di Torcello”.
In 1949, the direction was assigned to Giulia Fogolari, who, with the assistance of Guido Zattera; supervised the museum until 1997.
n 1974, after a radical restoration of the Palazzo del Consiglio and reorganisation of the exhibited pieces; the medieval and modern sections were opened.
In the following years, the Palazzo dell’Archivio was restored and the present archaeological section was inaugurated in the summer of 1990, with a new layout.
From 2005 to 2006, the Palazzo del Consiglio was restored and safety regulations updated.

Today the Metropolitan City of Venice – in addition to the restoration of the two buildings has taken care of the cataloging and scientific study of the museum heritage in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the Ca ‘Foscari University and the Region of Veneto.

Collections 24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello

The Museum houses a collection of works reflecting the history of the Venetian lagoon from private collections, archaeological finds and artefacts purchased by collectors, as well as handicrafts discovered in Torcello, the adjacent islands and the neighbouring mainland.

The museum is divided into two main sections:

The Archaeological Section: which is housed in the Palazzo dell’Archivio, contains archaeological finds coming from the Lagoon and relics from other areas; dating from the Palaeolithic era to the late-Roman period.
The Medieval and Modern Section: which is housed in the Palazzo del Consiglio, contains objects and documents from the first centuries of the Christian Era, until the 19th century presenting the history of the island of Torcello and its relations with the area of Altino, the Byzantine culture and the city of Venice.

ABOVE: Aerial view of Torcello. Waterbus stop at top left, with canal and various restaurants, running towards the historic centre with Cathedral of St Mary Assunta and Bell-tower.

24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello 24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello 24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello

Location – Opening Hours – Tickets and Concessions

Location

Museo Provinciale di Torcello Piazza Torcello 14 30142 Torcello (VE) Venice, Italy

Phone: +39 041730761
Phone: +39 0412501780-4 o +39 0412765001 from Monday to Thursday (during working hours)
E-mail: [email protected] Website in Links Section below.

It’s located right near the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello Island. If you’re heading there from Venice, the most common route is by vaporetto (water bus) – Venice Fondamenta Nouve – Burano – Torcello. Alternatively take Line 14 from San Zaccaria (close to St Mark’s Square) to Burano and change there to Line 9 for Torcello.

Opening Hours

Summer (1 March – 31 October): 10:30 – 17:30

Winter (1 November – 28 February): 10:30 – 16:00

Closed: Mondays and national holidays (except 15 August)

Ticket Prices and Concessions

Full price: €3.00
Reduced price: €1.50 Available for groups of more than 10 people and children aged 6 to 12
Free admission:
- Children under 5
- EU citizens over 65
- School classes accompanied by teachers
- Thursdays: Free for residents of the Province of Venice