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The clay tablets from Poggio Civitate return to Siena forty years after their first exhibition

by Redazione , published on 20/06/2026
Categories: Archaeology / Disclaimer
In Siena, at Palazzo Sansedoni, an exhibition dedicated to the decorated clay tablets from Poggio Civitate, which have been restored and are being presented to the public for the first time.

Forty years after their first exhibition, the terracotta slabs from Poggio Civitate return to Siena with the exhibition *Horses and Power*, scheduled from June 20 to July 18, 2026, in the exhibition spaces of Palazzo Sansedoni, home to the MPS Foundation. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Vernice Progetti Culturali, the Fondazione Musei Senesi, and the Murlo Archaeological Museum, with the participation of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto, and Arezzo, and the support of the Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

This marks a significant return, refocusing attention on one of the most important examples of archaic Etruria: the decorated slabs depicting galloping horses, a symbol of the aristocratic culture of the 6th century B.C. The works on display at Palazzo Sansedoni have been restored specifically for this occasion and come from the museum’s storage facilities. Originally, they adorned the roof of the great Etruscan building at Poggio Civitate and depict horses galloping at full speed with their jockeys, evoking the world of public competitions and aristocratic ceremonies associated with the display of power.

Clay slab from the Etruscan Palace in Poggio Civitate
Terracotta slab from the Etruscan Palace at Poggio Civitate
Reproduction of a male acroterion known as
Reproduction of a male acroterion known as “Il Cappellone”

These images, rich in evocative power, also establish a striking connection with the tradition of the Palio di Siena. The exhibition also features a reproduction of the famous male statue known as “Il Cappellone,” owned by the Municipality of Murlo.
The exhibition offers an important opportunity to explore one of the most fascinating chaptersin Tuscan archaeology and to strengthen the bond between Siena and the Murlo area.

Admission to the exhibition is free during the following hours: Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On June 29 and 30, 2026, it will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., while it will be closed on July 1 and 2.

The clay tablets from Poggio Civitate return to Siena forty years after their first exhibition
The clay tablets from Poggio Civitate return to Siena forty years after their first exhibition

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