Archaeological Museum of Bologna

The museum’s atrium corresponds to the former church of Santa Maria della Morte, transformed by Coriolano Monti in the early 19^th century.

A number of important Roman funerary monuments are located within the atrium. These take the form of large stelae bearing inscriptions and figures that used to identify the tombs, for the most part located along the main roads leading out of the Roman Bononia.

It is worth noting the large stela of the Cornelii, on the right-hand side of the entrance and, on the left, the fine stela of Manilio Cordo and the large sarcophagus of Marcus Beleius.

Of particular significance too is the fine marble torso with breastplate, identifiable as a statue of Emperor Nero; this originally stood in the city’s Roman theatre.