National Archaeological Museum of Locri Epizephyrii

Among the museum's extraordinary exhibits, we find some that are of particular value not only because they are a clear example of the luxury achieved by Locrian art thanks to the influence of the local aristocratic families, but also because they bear witness to the city's strong connections with the great artistic workshops of Athens. One of the most notable finds is the monumental lid of a lekan...

The showcase dedicated to the Persephoneion holds the famous pinakes, small rectangular terracotta plaques in low relief that represent one of the pinnacles of Locrian art and devotion. Made between 500 and 450 BC, they were originally painted in bright, vivid colours, the splendour of which we can only imagine today. The Pinakes were discovered in the sanctuary of Mannella, where they were offere...

The natural springs and caves surrounding Locri were considered sacred places where the relationship between divinity and the natural element of water, created a magical atmosphere. These sites were considered the dwelling places of the nymphs. The most impressive sanctuary was the Grotta Caruso, a natural cave where water, channelled through terracotta pipes, flowed into large ritual basins. Here...

Our journey continues outside the city walls, where we enter the sacred area dedicated to Demeter Thesmophoros. The name of the goddess is rich in meaning: one interpretation reads it as 'bearer of laws', referring to her role as the one who taught humankind the rules of civilised life and the secrets of agriculture. This was an intimate and solemn space, reserved almost exclusively for the women...

Welcome to the National Archaeological Museum of Locri Epizephyrii, I am Locrìa and I will be accompanying you on this journey. This is not merely a place where ancient artefacts are preserved, but a true physical and imaginative gateway to the polis, the Greek city-state of antiquity. Our journey begins symbolically 'outside the city walls of ancient Locri', in the realm of Hades, god of the Unde...