SPECIAL "The Gods Return. The Bronzes of San Casciano" – February 13 and 14, 2026

February 13 and 14, 2026 - National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia. On the occasion of the exhibition dedicated to the San Casciano bronzes, currently underway at the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, we have organized a meeting to explore and discuss issues related to the exhibition and archaeology of contexts associated with thermal waters. Two days dedicated to exploring and presenting to the public the findings of the archaeological investigations at San Casciano dei Bagni, conducted by the research team of the University for Foreigners of Siena (CADMO Center - Center for Archaeology for Pre-Roman Diversity and Mobility), in collaboration with the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto, and Arezzo, and the Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni. But not only that... Friday, February 13, 2026

3:30 PM

PRESENTATION OF THE EXHIBITION CATALOGUE

Treccani publisher

Ludovico Rebaudo (University of Udine) will speak.

to follow

VOICES FROM THE EXCAVATION

Presentation of the latest developments emerging from the investigations in San Casciano dei Bagni.

Speakers include Marco Pacifici, Helga Maiorana, and Mattia Bischeri.

5:15 PM

HEALTHY ADRIATIC. ARCHAEOLOGY OF THERMAL SPAS AT FONS TIMAVI AND FONS APONI

Presentation of the book by Maddalena Bassani (IUAV Venice)

Jacopo Tabolli (University for Foreigners of Siena) will speak.

Free admission. Reservations are recommended: museoaquileiaeventi@cultura.gov.it / 0431 91016

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

VISITS TO THE EXHIBITION WITH THE RESEARCH TEAM

1st shift: departure at 10 am

2nd round: departure at 10.15 am

Duration: approx. 1h 15'

Included in the museum admission price. Limited seating; reservations required: museoaquileiaeventi@cultura.gov.it / 0431 91016

_________________________________________________________ THE EXHIBITION The great discoveries of the Etruscan and Roman sanctuary on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia From December 5, 2025, to March 8, 2026, the exhibition "The Gods Return. The Bronzes of San Casciano" arrives at the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia. Curated by Massimo Osanna and Jacopo Tabolli, the exhibition is dedicated to one of the most important archaeological discoveries of recent decades: the extraordinary Etruscan-Roman thermal sanctuary of San Casciano dei Bagni in the province of Siena.

The exhibition will showcase a collection of more than three hundred finds, the result of excavation campaigns conducted at the Bagno Grande archaeological site by the University for Foreigners of Siena, in collaboration with the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto and Arezzo and the Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni.

The evocative display inside the new storage rooms of the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia enriches the exhibition with new findings from the latest excavation campaigns, displayed for the first time in Italy. The extraordinary finds recount centuries of devotion and prayer in a place characterized by the presence of hot springs, which significantly preserved the memory of this area's thermal vocation in its name: women and men, adults and children, of diverse cultures and languages, frequented and shared the same sanctuary, whose sacredness was closely linked to the presence of thermal waters with remarkable therapeutic qualities.

The theme of contact, exchange, and cross-cultural interaction will be the key to understanding the Aquileia edition of the exhibition, which is part of the initiatives planned for the GO!2025 celebrations – Nova Gorica-Gorizia European Capital of Culture 2025. The program will be enriched by the high scientific profile of the curatorial project and the extraordinary documentary value of the finds.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday: 10am-7pm (last admission 6pm)

Full price ticket: 14 euros / Reduced price ticket: 2 euros

Free for children under 18, every first Sunday of the month and in accordance with ministerial regulations.

Promoturismo FVG offers guided tours by reservation on Saturdays, Sundays, and all holidays at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. See the full schedule >>

The exhibition is organized thanks to the collaboration between the General Directorate of Museums, the General Directorate of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Ministry of Culture, the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto and Arezzo, the University for Foreigners of Siena and the Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni.

The exhibition was promoted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture with the Historical Museum and Park of Miramare Castle - Regional Directorate of National Museums of Friuli Venezia Giulia - National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia. The Aquileia Foundation provided the video mapping projection that will illuminate the museum's façade throughout the Christmas season. The Municipality of Aquileia, the Friuli Foundation, and Promoturismo FVG also contributed to the exhibition. As in previous editions, RAIStoria produced a new introductory video for the exhibition, based on the documentary "In Flesh and Bronze" by Italia Viaggio nella Bellezza, directed by Eugenio Farioli Vecchioli and Brigida Gullo.