Prince Rainier III of Monaco

Starting today, April 23, 2024, the museum is getting into its #HauteSaison rhythm!
We are now open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm.

Take advantage of the high season to explore or revisit our collections. For a complete immersion, join us on the guided tours available on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 pm.

Guided tours in English on request.

We also offer workshops for children and families on request, including games and manipulations around Mariana's history and collections.

For any further information, contact us on 04 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

From November 24th, 2023, to September 22nd, 2024, the Museum of the Archaeological Site of Mariana presents the temporary exhibition: "Rainier III of Monaco, in the footsteps of Saint Devota."

This exhibition is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the Museum of Mariana, the Cultural Affairs Department of the Princely Government, and the Archives Service of the Palace and participate in the commemorations of the centenary of the birth of Prince Rainier III.

On Monday, October 9th, the Geneviève Moracchini-Mazel Research Center welcomed three researchers: Philippe Biagini, research director, Jean-Pierre Poli, research professor, and Paul-Alexandre Schmitt, doctoral student, as part of a research project on the pathogens of ancient Corsican populations.

This project is led by the Paleomicrobiology Laboratory at the University of Corsica, in partnership with Aix-Marseille University (Faculty of Medicine, UMR ADES), Inrap, and various archaeological institutions in Corsica. Its objective is to explore specific infectious diseases (malaria, tuberculosis, brucellosis, etc.) that may have been present in Corsican territory over the centuries.

In this context, the bone remains of around forty individuals buried in the medieval cemetery of Mariana and stored in the museum's reserves have been sampled. Discovered during archaeological excavations in the 2000s, they constitute a homogeneous and well-documented population. After the scientific project was approved by the Territorial Commission for Archaeological Research, DNA analyses should reveal potential infectious diseases. These microbiological research efforts will be coupled with anthropological, archaeological, and historical studies to put the health status of a population into perspective with its environment, way of life, and social status. The advancements of this innovative and multidisciplinary approach will be regularly published here.

Serena Sabatini, an associate professor of archaeology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and a specialist in European and Mediterranean studies on bronze and early Iron Age, has conducted three samples on the « bull-hide » copper ingot deposited at the museum by the Ambrosi family.

The goal is to determine the chemical composition of this ingot, using Laser Ablation mass-spectrometry and its geochemical fingerprint by means of lead isotope analyses. Analyses of bronze age metallurgy using lead isotopes and trace element analyses are a well-established method for assessing the origin of copper used to produce objects and particularly ancient ingots.

Further analyses are also planned on ingots preserved in other museums in France and abroad.

As a result, we will know by early 2024 where our ingot was produced and to which group it belongs, currently two hypotheses: Cyprus or Sardinia.

Stay tuned...

From April 3rd to 7th, the Mariana Museum received Inrap specialists in its research center for a work session on the re-examination of archaeological data from the formerly excavated Mariana funerary areas.

The recent discovery of a funerary area, north of the ancient city, is at the origin of this research project and motivated a global re-examination of all the funerary furniture unearthed in the 1960s-1970s by Geneviève Moracchini-Mazel in the necropolises of I Ponti and Murotondo-Palazzetto, respectively to the east and west of the city. To carry out this ambitious project, Inrap brought together a multidisciplinary team made up of specialists in small furniture, ceramics, an anthropologist and an archaeozoologist, associated with the management of the museum's collections. This study benefits from the scientific and financial support of the SRA and Inrap.

For the museum, it is an opportunity to put together all the furniture from the old excavations of the necropolises, to refine our knowledge of these objects, and above all to have a global vision of the funeral rites in Mariana. This work will make it possible both to bring out local specificities in the treatment reserved for the dead and to highlight influences on a Mediterranean scale. Eventually, an illustrated catalog that synthesizes this re-reading of old data with regard to new discoveries should be published.

Exceptional visit around the god Mithras. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Mariana mithreum, the only sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithras discovered to date in Corsica.

Saturday April 13 at 3:00 p.m. exceptional guided tour led by Camille Anardin.

Follow in his footsteps and explore the rites and secrets of this ancient religion, coming from the Persian world, very appreciated by the Romans and which Emperor Aurelian (reigned from 270 to 275 AD) will associate with the imperial cult through the figure of Sol Invictus.

Reservation required (limited places) on 04 20 19 02 40 or on musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

Our team is at your disposal for any additional information.

Immerse yourself in the Corsican architectural universe of the nineteenth century on April 20, 2024, during a captivating conference with free admission at 2:30 p.m. at the Mariana Museum. Discover the architectural specificities of this era of peace and prosperity, marked by significant advances in urban planning and construction.

Pierre Claude Giansily, an art historian specialising in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Corsican painting, sculpture and architecture, will be our speaker in this exploration. His in-depth, award-winning and published research offers a unique look at the civil, religious and public architecture that has shaped the face of modern Corsica.

Join us for an enriching retrospective of Corsican public architecture, from parish churches to emblematic monuments. This event is an exceptional opportunity to deepen your understanding of the island's architectural heritage.

For any further information, contact us on 04 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

We look forward to seeing many of you to share this moment in the history of art!

We have the honor of inviting you to a conference dedicated to the Borgo battle that took place from October 8th to 10th, 1768. Join us on Saturday, March 16th at 2:30 PM for the exploration of this pivotal event led by Michel Vergé-Franceschi, Professor Emeritus of Universities, 3-time Winner of the Corsican Book Prize.

This immersion into the history of the Borgo battle will delve into the circumstances preceding the conflict, unveil a thorough analysis of the strategies and key moments of the battle, and examine their impact and repercussions on Corsican society.

An unparalleled opportunity to deepen your knowledge of this major historical event. Come enrich your perspective on Corsican history and its defining moments.

For any additional information, please contact us at 04 20 19 02 40 or via email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

We have the honor of inviting you to a conference dedicated to the L.N. MATTEI brand, a key player in the Corsican industrial development and still deeply rooted in the Corsican imagination today. Join us on February 17th at 2:30 PM for this essential event led by Dominique Mattei.

For over a century, the L.N. MATTEI company has contributed to the economic development of Corsica while acquiring a remarkable international stature. The brand is recognized for its pioneering role in advertising and its deep connection to the island's collective memory.

We will address the figures of Louis Napoléon MATTEI and François Mattei, who adapted their vision to the changes of their time, turning Cap Corse Mattei into an emblem of loyalty to the region and international influences.

The book "Mattei, une saga insulaire" pays tribute to these men while aiming to contribute to writing a page of Corsican history that is as fascinating as it is unknown.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this historical richness together.

For any additional information, please contact us at +33 4 20 19 02 40 or via email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

We are delighted to invite you to a conference on the Corsican Resistance (1940-1943): A Social Movement? Rediscover the resistance phenomenon in Corsica, through an anthropological perspective, in the museum on Saturday, January 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Moderated by Sylvain Gregori, curator of the Museum of Bastia and the Museum of the Corsican Resistance, this conference allows us to understand how the Resistance took root in the island's society, in the daily life of the population.

This social and cultural prism, ultimately close to the archaeological approach, opens the way to a more detailed knowledge of the Resistance. Complementary to political or military history, it is above all the antithesis of the ideological instrumentalizations of which this period was a victim. At a time when actors and witnesses are disappearing, it offers a new collective memory that is being built.

For more information, contact us by phone at 04 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr. We can't wait to share this exciting moment with you!

As part of its partnership with Inrap, the Mariana Museum is hosting an exceptional study day on preventive archaeology in Corsica.

The development of preventive archaeology has led to an unprecedented increase in knowledge of territories. Archaeological excavations carried out in Corsica before the construction of buildings or infrastructure document the island's occupations, contributing to the renewal of knowledge about its history.

This study day aims to share the results of archaeological research recently conducted by INRAP under the egis of the DRAC, from the famous excavation of the Etruscan necropolis of Lamajone in Aléria to the Neolithic site of Dilligato in Sotta, including the ancient city of Mariana, the medieval church of San Petru in Barbaggio, or the Genoese fort of Girolata. The examples presented by archaeologists, in collaboration with numerous partners, will also help outline perspectives for the future of preventive archaeology in Corsica.

Open to all, this day will take place at the Museum of the Archaeological Site of Mariana – Prince Rainier III of Monaco. You can also find the program by following this link : 

: https://www.inrap.fr/sites/inrap.fr/files/atoms/files/3429_inr_-_depliant_journee_detude_v20.pdf

The museum invites you to a deep dive into Corsican genealogy on Saturday, December 16th at 10 AM during the conference titled "Genealugia in Lucciana cumu fà" (Genealogy in Lucciana, how to do it).

The museum invites you to a deep dive into Corsican genealogy on Saturday, December 16th at 10 AM during the conference titled "Genealugia in Lucciana cumu fà" (Genealogy in Lucciana, how to do it).

At the heart of this conference, we will explore essential documents such as parish registers, civil status records, censuses, and consanguinity dispensations, among others. We will also focus on innovative tools like DNA, now available for genealogical research. Special attention will be given to the richness and uniqueness of Corsica, with a focus on documents related to the village of Lucciana.

The conference will continue with insights into Corsican specifics in genealogical research and the challenges they pose. Finally, the Corsican genealogical association will showcase some of its emblematic work in genealogy.

The conference will be led by André Flori, a former senior officer in the Air Force and current president of the Corsica Genealugia association for the past 10 years. With extensive experience, he has contributed to several major works on Corsican genealogy and has reconstructed the history of families from various villages in the region.

Join us for this fascinating journey into Corsican family history!

For more information, contact us by phone at 04 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

From September 26th, 2023, the museum transitions to its off-season schedule!

The museum is  open from Tuesday to Friday, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Closed on public holidays 01/11 and 11/11 and from 26 to 30/12.

The A Canonica Church remains accessible on reservation for guided group tours.

Take advantage of this off-season period to discover or rediscover our collections in a peaceful atmosphere. For an even more immersive experience, we invite you to join our guided tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3:00 PM.

The museum is pleased to invite you to an exceptional musical event in the company of the Magicanima group. Dive into a world that harmoniously blends captivating voices and enchanting melodies from the regions of Corsica, Sardinia, Italy, and much more!

Magicanima is composed of two voices and two guitars and takes you on a musical journey full of emotions. Their repertoire is a subtle blend of original creations, traditional songs, and captivating melodies drawn from the cultures of the Mediterranean Basin. From Corsica to Sardinia, and through Italy and Argentina, their music will transport you to distant lands and make you feel the richness of these historically tinged territories.

While Argentine Milonga and Tango harmoniously make their way into their compositions, Magicanima also stands out for its opening to all other Argentine musical influences, reflecting the diversity and depth of the plains and landscapes of this country.

Magicanima is more than just a concert; it is a polyphony of memories, a meeting between cultures and traditions, all while being oriented towards the future, inviting you to explore the musical horizons of tomorrow.

Join us on Saturday, September 9th, at 4 p.m. at the Mariana Lucciana museum for this unique musical experience. Admission is free, offering everyone the opportunity to participate in this memorable event.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to this exceptional musical event at the Mariana museum. Come celebrate cultural and musical diversity with us!

For more information, contact us by phone at +33 4 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

As part of National Architecture Days, we are pleased to invite you to a conference on Saturday, October 14th at 10 AM, focusing on contemporary architecture in Corsica, presented by Julien Darbon Patrimonio.

First, discover a unique panorama of island architecture with an immersion into the award-winning projects of the Regional Architecture Awards in Corsica - 1st edition, presented by the Maison de l'Architecture Corse. Broaden your horizons with an exploration of the agency's flagship projects, encompassing both construction and renovation. Lastly, Pierre André Asara will present the ongoing architectural revival (riacquistu).

This conference promises an immersion into the Corsican architectural landscape, highlighting the dialogue between heritage and innovation. Come explore the subtleties of design and how Corsican culture expresses itself through its buildings and territory.

For more information, contact us by phone at 04 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr. We look forward to sharing this exciting moment with you!

This Saturday, October 7th, at the Museum of Levie: "Mariana in Light!"

The Alta Rocca Museum in Levie opens its doors and is pleased to invite you to a conference on Saturday, October 7th at 2:30 PM.

Explore the treasures and mysteries of the "Archaeological Site Museum of Mariana - Prince Rainier III of Monaco," through a presentation by our director, Ophélie de Peretti, a native of Levie.

Admission is free for all. A big thank you to the Levie Museum for this collaboration that promotes the Mariana Museum beyond its territory.

For more information or any questions regarding the organization, the Alta Rocca Museum team is at your service at 04 95 78 00 73.

The Museum of Mariana is delighted to invite you to the European Heritage Days, next weekend. For the 40th edition of this unmissable event, we will take you on a journey to discover our rich archaeological heritage.

On Saturday, September 16th, and Sunday, September 17th, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, our museum and its archaeological park will open their doors to welcome you for free. For this occasion, we have scheduled 6 flash guided tours every day. At the museum, three guided tours will be organized at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. On the archaeological site, they will take place at 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM, allowing you, for those who wish to visit the museum and/or the archaeological site with a mediator.

The guided tours are open to everyone, and admission is free during these two days.

For more information, please call us at +33 4.20.19.02.40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Mithraeum of Mariana, the only sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithras discovered in Corsica to date. Join us on Thursday, August 17th at 3:30 PM for this exceptional guided tour led by Camille Anardin. Follow in his footsteps and explore the rituals and secrets of this ancient religion, originating from the Persian world but highly esteemed among the Romans.

Reservation is mandatory (limited spots available) at +33 4 20 19 02 40 or via musee@mariana-lucciana.fr. Our team is at your disposal for any additional information.

Are you looking for an immersive and captivating musical experience? Look no further! The Mariana Museum invites you to attend an exceptional interactive concert, showcasing the agro-pastoral music of the Mediterranean basin.

Join us on Saturday, July 8th at 4 PM for a spatio-temporal journey filled with Corsican melodies and much more. Christian Andreani will introduce you to the iconic traditional instruments of this rich musical tradition and will transport you into the historical context that surrounds them.

Admission is free, so feel free to invite your friends, and family to join you for this unique cultural experience. Mark this date in your calendar now and get ready to have a memorable time at the Mariana Museum.

For more information, please contact us by phone at +33 4 20 19 02 40 or by email at musee@mariana-lucciana.fr

For the first time since its opening, we are pleased to offer you a concert at the museum.

The Trio Elixir performs string instruments to offer you a not-so-classical concert.

An astonishing and interactive musical experience will be exceptionally presented this Saturday, June 24th, at 4:00pm. Free admission. 

This year, we are the ones moving to offer you a workshop: Looking for the lost shard! For the European Archaeology Days. Indeed, the EAD will take place on June 16th, 17th, and 18th at the Alta Rocca Museum and the Capula site in Levie. Come and discover workshops, exhibitions, and demonstrations of all kinds with archaeologists working in Corsica. All information is available at www.journees-archeologie.eu

From now on, the Canonica Church, the first Romanesque structure built in Corsica in the early 12th century, is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00am to 7:00 pm. You may access it with a museum ticket dated for the day. Enjoy your discovery!

The Principality of Monaco honors us by hosting the annual event of the Grimaldi Historic Sites in Monaco. The archaeological site museum of Mariana - Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the Marana-Golo Tourism Office will be present in the activity village around the Princely Palace on Saturday, June 10th, and Sunday, June 11th, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. These are expected to be exceptional days.

For the first time since our opening, the Museum of Mariana takes part in the European Night of Museums !

On the program : a convention about Mithraism in the Roman world followed by a guided tour about the Mithraeum found in Mariana. As of today’s date, it is the only sanctuary dedicated to Mithra – who came from Persian Civilisation, discovered in Corsica.

For the first time since our opening, the Museum of Mariana takes part in the European Night of Museums !

On the program : a convention about Mithraism in the Roman world followed by a guided tour about the Mithraeum found in Mariana. As of today’s date, it is the only sanctuary dedicated to Mithra – who came from Persian Civilisation, discovered in Corsica.