Museo Campano

On August 21, 1869 a "Committee for the conservation of monuments and objects of antiquity and fine arts" was established by royal decree in what was then the region of Terra di Lavoro. The committee approved the establishment of a museum of antiquities in Capua, which was officially founded in 1870. The historic Palazzo Antignano (whose Lombard origins date back to the IX century, but which was heavily altered in the mid-XV century)[2] was chosen as the seat of the new museum, which opened to the public in 1874.[3]

The museum was established for the purpose of properly preserving and displaying the large quantity of precious archaeological material that had been discovered in the region, especially thanks to the excavations conducted on the many nearby archaeological sites. The museum continued growing over time, and in 1933 the building was rearranged to adapt to the ever-expanding collections.[3]

On September 9, 1943 an Allied air strike hit Capua, killing about a thousand people and destroying circa 75% of the buildings in the city, including Palazzo Antignano. Some important pieces of the collections were destroyed. Rebuilding of Palazzo Antignano started in 1945, and in 1956 the museum was reopened.[3]

The palace was the home of the prominent Antignano family, which gained prominence under the rule of Alfonso V of Aragon.[4] In its present form the palace dates back to the XV century, but incorporates much older spolia such as Longobard capitals and columns, as well as the remnants of the Longobard church of San Lorenzo ad Crucem, deconsecrated in 1594.[3][5]

The façade features a Catalan Gothic portal and Renaissance elements; inside, the main courtyard boasts a monumental open staircase.[5]