I walked about the city again, early this morning. Papa and I had a leisurely morning, then went by the UA Study Abroad building where we met Alba, Jennifer, and Cinthia. We walked to lunch and had a good conversation about study abroad. After lunch, Papa and I went to the Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum, across the piazza from the Duomo.
The Museum is located in Palazzo Faina, built in the mid 1800’s by Claudio Faina, by renovating and adding onto a 13th century house. Claudio Faina had in mind to use the ground floor of the building to display his collections. Started by Mauro, Claudio’s brother, then enlarged by nephew Eugenio, the Faina family collection of ancient coins and Etruscan pots and other finds from the Orvieto area, is extraordinary. The collection was left by Claudio junior to the Municipality of Orvieto in 1954. The Museum itself is beautiful, with the upper floors used as the Faina home, and having exquisitely painted ceilings and a balcony overlooking the Duomo.
“Etruscan civilization is the modern name given to a civilization of ancient Italy. It’s homeland was in the area of central Italy, just north of Rome, today called Tuscany. The Etruscan civilization lasted from the 8th century BC to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. In the 6th century the Etruscans expanded their influence over a wide area of Italy. Early Rome was deeply influenced by the Etruscan culture (the word “Rome” is Etruscan). Between the late 6th and early 4th centuries BC, Etruscan power declined. The rising power of the Greek city states of Sicily and southern Italy weakened Etruscan influence and they ultimately surrendered their power to the Romans. Etruscan culture was influenced by Greek traders. Their alphabet was Greek in origin and they passed their alphabet to the Romans.” Orvieto is in the center of Etruscan ruins.
The Museum is located in Palazzo Faina, built in the mid 1800’s by Claudio Faina, by renovating and adding onto a 13th century house. Claudio Faina had in mind to use the ground floor of the building to display his collections. Started by Mauro, Claudio’s brother, then enlarged by nephew Eugenio, the Faina family collection of ancient coins and Etruscan pots and other finds from the Orvieto area, is extraordinary. The collection was left by Claudio junior to the Municipality of Orvieto in 1954. The Museum itself is beautiful, with the upper floors used as the Faina home, and having exquisitely painted ceilings and a balcony overlooking the Duomo.
“Etruscan civilization is the modern name given to a civilization of ancient Italy. It’s homeland was in the area of central Italy, just north of Rome, today called Tuscany. The Etruscan civilization lasted from the 8th century BC to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. In the 6th century the Etruscans expanded their influence over a wide area of Italy. Early Rome was deeply influenced by the Etruscan culture (the word “Rome” is Etruscan). Between the late 6th and early 4th centuries BC, Etruscan power declined. The rising power of the Greek city states of Sicily and southern Italy weakened Etruscan influence and they ultimately surrendered their power to the Romans. Etruscan culture was influenced by Greek traders. Their alphabet was Greek in origin and they passed their alphabet to the Romans.” Orvieto is in the center of Etruscan ruins.
