Perugia is ready to reopen the doors of one of its ancient Etruscan treasures: the Volumni Hypogeum. After a year and a half of work, it will be visitable again from 11 November. The splendid archaeological space inside the Palazzone Necropolis reveals itself in all its splendor to the curious public eager to discover the restored environments.
The Volumni Hypogeum and the Palazzone Necropolis Reopen
From Wednesday, 11 November the Ponte San Giovanni archaeological complex reopens its doors; after a year and a half of work the site just a stone’s throw from the center of Perugia becomes accessible again with a reorganization of spaces and a new layout enriched by new technologies. The intervention, costing 2.2 million euros, has been completed thanks also to funding from the PNRR funds under the PINQuA program and contributions provided by the Ministry of Culture. The works affected green areas, accesses, lighting and underground environments.
Visitors in Umbria will be able to enjoy a completely new experience, savoring the multimedia installations and the interactive stations that allow exploring symbols, customs and traditions of the Etruscans. The real highlight is a three-dimensional reconstruction of the Hypogeum that helps better understand how the structure and the architecture of the building truly looked.
The main attraction remains naturally the funerary monument, discovered in 1840 and attributed to the Velimna family, known in Roman times as Volumni. To reach it one must descend a staircase that leads into the depths of the hill. Here opens a surprising environment. The funerary chambers are arranged around a central space, beneath a ceiling carved to imitate roof beams. It almost feels like entering a house that has stood still for centuries. The decorations, however, continuously remind of the place’s function: Medusa heads, sculpted figures and symbolic references to the world of the dead.
In the main hall seven cremation urns are preserved, some with the deceased depicted lying as at a banquet. A reminder of the family’s role and social prestige in Etruscan culture. Surrounding it, the Palazzone Necropolis counts about two hundred tombs carved into the hillside, used from the archaic period up to the Roman era.
The route continues in the Antiquarium, where ceramics, urns and objects from the excavations recount lesser-known aspects of Etruscan life. The new installation also highlights traces of the ancient colored decorations, artisanal productions and Perugian bucchero, the distinctive black ceramic. There are also spaces designed for children and families, with activities that make the visit more participatory.
How to Visit the Volumni Hypogeum: Useful Information
One year of free admission for residents of the Municipality of Perugia: this is the novelty accompanying the reopening of the Volumni Hypogeum and the Palazzone Necropolis, in Ponte San Giovanni. The concession begins on 11 November 2026 and will allow Perugians to visit without paying for one of the most important sites in the region’s Etruscan history.
Also defined are the opening hours. The complex will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:00 to 13:30. On Friday there is an afternoon opening, from 14:00 to 18:30. It is closed on Monday. For other visitors the full ticket costs 3 euros, the reduced 2 euros. EU citizens under 18 and the categories provided by the Ministry of Culture may enter for free.
