Territorial Museum and Aquarium
The Museum is housed in the Rocca Monaldeschi and is part of the broader Museum System of Lake Bolsena.
Leaving the Rocca, the museum route continues in the nearby Palazzo Monaldeschi, where the new archaeological section inaugurated in 2013 and the medieval section are located, which displays ceramics from the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Introducing the visit, in the museum entrance, there is an imposing Greek marble sarcophagus, dating to the 2nd–3rd century AD, decorated in relief with scenes of the cult of Bacchus and with the representation of the love between the god and Ariadne.
The archaeological section opens with artifacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages, largely coming from the depths of Lake Bolsena and having reached us in an extraordinary state of preservation.
This is followed by materials from the Etruscan period, mainly from the Capriola necropolis (late 8th – mid 7th century BC) and from a chamber tomb found in the Melona locality (3rd century BC).
On the upper floor are preserved the testimonies of the Roman city of Volsinii, among which stands out the famous Throne of the Panthers, dedicated to the cult of Bacchus, along with fresco fragments that tell of the splendor of the ancient city dwellings.
The visit continues in the naturalistic section, dedicated to the life that populates and surrounds Lake Vulsini. Here it is possible to admire a large freshwater aquarium, unique of its kind, which reproduces the ecosystem of the lake basin.
The Palace also houses an area dedicated to Ars Wetana, the Orvieto lace tradition, and a section that documents the wrecks found in the lake of Bolsena, dating from the Bronze Age to the Second World War.
Plan Your Visit
Storyteller of the beauty, art, history and culture of Lake Bolsena and its surroundings, territories where I grew up and which I can share with the professionalism and passion of a local tour guide.
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM
Telling the story of this land is not just about unveiling secrets and frescoes, it is about returning the light that this lake and this town give me every day, with a devotion that transcends time.
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM
My teaching profession has refined my ability to communicate. You cannot teach or illustrate art and creation without sharing a passion for beauty with others. A guide is not a book—it is the synthesis of all books and meaningful experiences from which they have drawn their knowledge, in order to share history and stories with everyone.
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM
I believe being an ambassador for the place where you were born is a great privilege. Leading Italian and international visitors through the story of Bolsena's artistic, natural and cultural wonders is a stimulating experience that enriches your own knowledge while sharing it with others.
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM
Telling Bolsena's thousand-year history through dedicated guided tours means giving the town back to its people and helping visitors discover our remarkable cultural heritage.
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM
