The archaeological museum of Faina is located in Piazza del Duomo and occupies Palazzo Faina, which once housed the Monaldeschi, one of the most powerful families in 13th-century Orvieto. A museum since 1954, it was purchased in the 19th century by Count Claudio Faina senior, who transferred his family collection from Perugia to Orvieto. In that year, the last heir of the family, Claudio Faina junior, decided to donate the building and all his belongings to the Comune di Orvieto to fund the ‘Fondazione per il Museo Claudio Faina’.
The current, very varied exhibition is set out on various levels. On the ground floor, the Museo Civico has a collection of important archaeological remains from various sites in Orvieto. The most famous object is certainly the Venere di Cannicella. The first floor hosts the Faina family collection composed of incredibly precious coins: pieces from the Roman era, from the republican to the imperial period, displayed in strict chronological order. Finally, on the second floor are ceramics from the Etruscan and Greek periods, organised according to typology and chronology. This floor of the building also has a corridor from which you can admire a unique and captivating view of the Duomo.