Whether you’re a history buff or just a big fan of ancient Egypt, the Egyptian Museum of Turin is a must-visit. This collection contains a vast array of artifacts that narrate 5,000 years of history through art, religion, and daily life.
On this 2.5-hour tour, you’ll skip the long lines and explore the museum with an expert guide! You’ll see mummies and hieroglyphs, learn about the golden age in Egypt, and more!
1. The Hall of Statues
Turin’s Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) is one of the world’s largest collections, with 30,000 artifacts. After a massive renovation that enlarged and reorganized the galleries, it opened in 2015.
The Museum houses a wide range of artifacts from all eras. Highlights include mummies, sarcophagi, statues and hieroglyphs, as well as papyrus.
Among the highlights of this museum is the Hall of Statues, a long corridor lined with incredible Egyptian statues. The most impressive is the 5 meter-high Pharaoh Seti II statue.
2. The Hall of Mummies
The Hall of Mummies is a must-see for anyone interested in Egyptian culture. The museum is housed in a baroque building that dates back to the 1500s and contains the second largest collection of mummies in the world after the Cairo Museum.
A great way to experience the Museum is with a guided tour, which allows you to skip the queue and explore the exhibits. This 2-hour tour costs 15 euros and is recommended for people who want to learn more about the history of Egypt.
The vast museum is divided into three floors and is filled with artifacts from all eras. It features everything from sarcophagi to papyri. There are also several stelae, which are carved tablets, and an ancient copy of the “Book of the Dead,” made from papyrus.
3. The Hall of Papyri
The Hall of Papyri is one of the most important exhibits of the Egyptian Museum of Turin. It houses a collection of 165 chapters that contain a series of formulas used in burial ceremonies.
The long papyrus scrolls were inserted into aristocratic Egyptian tombs and served as a guide for the deceased on their journey to the afterlife. They are also a great source of knowledge about the ancient Egyptian religion and its rituals.
The museum also has a large collection of decorated wooden sarcophagi dating back to the Old Kingdom. Its Gallery of Kings contains a variety of Egyptian statues, including an impressive Pharaoh Seti II figure.
4. The Hall of Coffins
Turin's Egyptian Museum, the oldest of its kind after Cairo, is home to a staggeringly extensive collection. Over 30,000 artifacts narrate 5,000 years of Ancient Egypt's history through art, religion and everyday life.
The Hall of Coffins showcases a wide range of sarcophagi, or stone coffins, from 1100 BC to 600 BC. It's the perfect place to get a sense of how ancient Egyptians buried their loved ones and how much they valued their dead.
One of the most intriguing sarcophagi in this collection is a carved limestone splinter that depicts an acrobat dancer. This is a rare subject in ancient Egyptian art and it's a testament to the belief that people still held about the afterlife.
5. The Hall of Treasures
The Hall of Treasures is a must-see for anyone interested in Egyptian culture. Here, you can view statues of important royals, mummies, and other artifacts from ancient Egypt.
There are also some fascinating wooden sarcophagi from the Old Kingdom era on display. These were used to bury the bodies of deceased nobles, and they reveal a wealth of details that make them stand out from their peers.
A highlight is the tomb of Kha, a wealthy court figure found at the archaeological site of Deir el-Medina. This mummy is believed to be one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 3500 BC.
