Civic Archaeological Museum at Clarisse

Museum

In the historic heart of Ozieri, amid the narrow streets of the Donnigalza neighborhood, stands one of the most fascinating museums in northern Sardinia. The Civic Archaeological Museum “Alle Clarisse” preserves thousands of years of Ozieri history in a building that is itself an extraordinary testament to the past. Founded in 1985 in the former convent of San Francesco and moved to its current location in 2003, it is now one of the main features of the city’s Urban Museum System.

A BUILDING THAT TELLS OF CENTURIES OF HISTORY

Even before entering the exhibition halls, the structure itself deserves attention. The convent of the Poor Clares was officially established in 1753 to house the nuns of Tempio, but it was later occupied by the Poor Clares of Orosei. Subsequently requisitioned under the Rattazzi Law, it became a military barracks—the Pietro Micca barracks—undergoing extensive expansions and transformations. After military occupation ended in 1953, the building hosted various educational, social, and residential activities over time, until a restoration project restored its dignity and gave it a new lease on life.

Today, the complex is spread across multiple levels: from the courtyard with its open-air lapidarium to the restoration laboratories, educational, and multi-purpose spaces, up to the perfectly accessible glass attic, which is often reserved for temporary exhibitions. It is a living place in constant evolution, capable of blending memory and modernity.

The visit is an authentic journey through time. It begins in the courtyard, where a curved stele from a giants’ grave, Nuragic basins, and the architrave from the rural church of San Luca introduce the visitor to the museum’s atmosphere. Inside, a diachronic table illustrates the evolution of ancient Sardinian cultures, guiding the visitor along a logical and engaging path.

 

THE EXHIBITION PATH

Neolithic Hall

In the first room, dedicated to Prehistory, you will find stone tools and refined Neolithic ceramics belonging to numerous cultures, including the Ozieri culture ($4,000$–$3,000$ BC). Emerging from this very territory, it is world-renowned for the elegance of its decorations. Among its masterpieces, the famous Pyxis, discovered in the San Michele Cave, stands out. Alongside the ceramics, a bone Mother Goddess and Chalcolithic artifacts complete the picture of a surprisingly advanced civilization.

Nuragic Hall

The second room is dedicated to the Nuragic civilization, which has left over 123 monumental remains in the Ozieri area, including nuraghi, Giants’ tombs, and sacred wells. Braziers, askoi, loom weights, mortars, and millstones tell the story of the daily life of a hardworking people. The molds from San Luca and the bronze tools from the hoards of Baldosa and Badu ‘e Tuvu, the copper and lead ingots, the Ox-hide ingot from Bisarcio — of Aegean-Cypriot origin — and the votive swords from S’Iscolca instead testify to the economic and ritual importance of the area, which stood at the center of trade routes as early as the Bronze Age. Videos and reconstruction models, including a scale Nuragic hut and a Giants’ tomb, make the experience even more vivid.

Roman Hall

The third hall guides the visitor through the historical age: from the few Punic artifacts to the richer evidence of the Roman era, including epigraphic stelae, milestones, votive deposits, balsamaria, glassware, and funerary urns from necropolises. The territory of Ozieri was a strategic hub between Turris and Olbia, as evidenced by the three bridges over the Rio Mannu and the majestic Pont’Ezzu, one of the largest Roman bridges in all of Sardinia.

The third hall guides the visitor through the historical age: from the few Punic artifacts to the richer evidence of the Roman era, including epigraphic stelae, milestones, votive deposits, balsamaria, glassware, and funerary urns from necropolises. The territory of Ozieri was a strategic hub between Turris and Olbia, as evidenced by the three bridges over the Rio Mannu and the majestic Pont’Ezzu, one of the largest Roman bridges in all of Sardinia.

MEDIEVAL HALL

The final corridor concludes the tour with medieval and modern era artifacts: Late Gothic capitals, Byzantine and Lombard fibulae from Bisarcio, Barcelona and Valencian ceramics, and objects made of bone and ivory.

The Francesco Amadu Numismatic Collection and the Ethnographic Collection

On the second floor, a self-contained path awaits fans of monetary history. The Francesco Amadu Numismatic Collection is one of the most complete in Sardinia, spread across four rooms that lead from 5th-century BC Greek coins to the Savoyard pieces that marked the end of the island’s mint. Punic coins, Roman Republic denarii, imperial bronzes, Byzantine folles, Aragonese alfonsini, and Genoese minuti: each piece is a fragment of Mediterranean history. A dedicated computer station supports the visit with educational insights, making the collection accessible to everyone, from scholars to curious visitors.
Alongside the archaeological finds, the museum preserves a precious ethnographic section, created through the generosity of families and private citizens. The Bandini, Marinelli, Gallisay-Carta, and Manchia collections gather portraits, personal objects, traditional 20th-century clothing, and musical manuscripts. Together, these collections compose a vivid and touching portrait of the Ozieri community, giving a voice and a face back to the figures who left an indelible mark on the city’s history.

Museum events

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Festival del Lago Coghinas

$

2026-06-25

2026-06-27

Ponte Romani PontEzzu

Tre giorni tra sport acquatici, concerti all’aperto e escursioni guidate nella natura intorno al lago.

Sagra delle Tradizioni Rurali

$

2026-07-02

2026-07-04

Grotta di San Michele

Festa dedicata alla cultura contadina con degustazioni, dimostrazioni di antichi mestieri e musica folkloristica.

Settimana della Cultura di Ozieri

$

2026-09-05

2026-09-05

Fontana Grixoni

Mostre temporanee, laboratori didattici e incontri con archeologi per approfondire la storia e le tradizioni del territorio.

Notte Preistorica

$

2026-06-21

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Fontana Grixoni

Evento serale tra archeologia e spettacolo, con visite alle grotte, installazioni luminose e racconti sulla civiltà prenuragica.

Festival del Medioevo Regale

$

2026-05-10

2026-03-12

Pinacoteca “Giuseppe Altana”

Rievocazione storica del periodo giudicale con cortei in costume, musica medievale e visite guidate alla basilica illuminate da candele.

MUSEUM NEWS

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A gateway to the memory of Sardinia

The Civic Archaeological Museum at the Clarisse is not just a place of preservation: it is a living space, designed to welcome, engage, and inspire. With its restoration laboratories, educational spaces, library, study room, and temporary exhibitions, it serves as a cultural landmark for the entire Monte Acuto region. An unmissable stop for anyone who truly wishes to discover the deepest soul of Ozieri and Sardinia.

VIRTUAL TOUR

VIRTUAL TOUR

OF THE CLARISSE CELLS

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