The history of Castiglioncello and Vada has very ancient origins, evidence of which has come down to us through artifacts that were found here. It is for this reason that the Civic Archeological Museum in Rosignano Marittimo was created, leading visitors from Prehistory to the Middle Ages to discover the roots of the territory ranging from the Livorno hills to the upper Val di Cecina.
Housed inside the medieval Palazzo Bombardieri, the museum is divided into three floors and preserves artifacts from nearby Etruscan necropolises, architectural elements and furnishings, amphorae and anchors from wrecks identified in the waters of Vada.
Although the museum's origins date back to the 1950s, discoveries between 1960 and 1979 in the archeological area of San Gaetano (in the locality of Vada) enriched the display of its most substantial collection of artifacts. Once the ancient port of Volterra, Vada was in fact a very important commercial hub until the Middle Ages, a fact proven by the discovery of numerous amphorae, as well as coins and vases.
There is also an interesting section devoted to the late medieval period, showcasing local or imported ceramics and majolica found at the Castle of Rosignano Marittimo.
The ground floor houses a reconstruction of the rooms of a 1st-century A.D. Roman domus in several halls, furnished with everyday objects (copies of the exhibits on the upper floors): an opportunity for visitors of all ages to learn about some aspects of life in ancient Roman times.
