Museo nazionale preistorico etnografico Luigi Pigori (National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography), Rome

When exploring Rome's EUR district, be sure to visit this museum, established in 1875 by the renowned paleontologist Luigi Pigorini. As you enter, you'll find a bust of him in the entrance hall. The museum's origins trace back to 1650 when Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher founded the initial collection of prehistoric artifacts. Over time, Kircher's collection expanded through donations from colleagues who had visited Brazil, Canada, and China, as well as from missionaries in Angola and the Congo.

Today, Kircher's collection is on display in the museum, which serves both educational and research purposes, providing insights into the progression and development of humanity. In the Ethnography section, you will encounter over 60,000 artifacts representing Mediterranean culture, along with objects from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum also boasts a remarkable collection of Neolithic items originating from Lake Bracciano, where the remains of an Early Neolithic lakeshore village were unearthed.

In the Anthropology section, you will discover skeletal remains arranged chronologically, spanning from the 6th century BC to the late Middle Ages. Additionally, there are captivating mosaics and stucco decorations originating from an ancient Roman necropolis discovered on Isola Sacra during archaeological excavations.