Italy's largest amulet collection at MANU Perugia
In Perugia, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria (MANU) features the largest collection of amulets in Italy, gathered by Giuseppe Bellucci between the 19th and early 20th centuries. This impressive collection contains around 3,500 pieces, including items like prehistoric tools meant to protect against lightning, bells for children to guard against hail, cranium-shaped objects to attract rain, and the 18th-century 'cimaruta' from Naples, created to fend off the evil eye. Giancarlo Baronti manages this collection. Moreover, from February 3 to June 20, 2024, the Centro Giovanni Lilliu in Barumini, Sardinia, will host a temporary exhibition called 'La Magia degli Amuleti. Umbria e Sardegna vicine o lontane?', featuring Sardinian amulets, curated by Andreina Ghiani and Caterina Lilliu.
Key facts
- Giuseppe Bellucci (1844–1921) assembled the collection between the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The collection comprises about 3,500 amulets.
- It is the most important amulet collection in Italy and one of the largest globally.
- The collection is housed at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria (MANU) in Perugia.
- Amulets include prehistoric arrowheads and blades associated with lightning protection.
- Bells were worn by children to prevent hail after storms.
- Cranium-shaped amulets were used to invoke rain during droughts.
- A temporary exhibition 'La Magia degli Amuleti' runs from February 3 to June 20, 2024, at Centro Giovanni Lilliu in Barumini, Sardinia.
- The exhibition is curated by Andreina Ghiani and Caterina Lilliu.
- Scientific coordination by Tiziana Caponi and Caterina Lilliu.
Entities
Artists
- Giuseppe Bellucci
- Tiziana Caponi
- Giancarlo Baronti
- Andreina Ghiani
- Caterina Lilliu
- Gianfranca Salis
- Dorica Manconi
- Fulvia Lo Schiavo
- Gabriele Passeri
Institutions
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria (MANU)
- Università degli Studi di Perugia
- Fondazione Barumini Sistema Cultura
- Soprintendenza Archeologica Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Cagliari e le Province di Oristano e Sud Sardegna
- Centro Giovanni Lilliu – Barumini
- Artribune
Locations
- Perugia
- Italy
- Barumini
- Sardinia
- Cagliari
- Oristano
- Sud Sardegna
- Naples