Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Formia

The National Archaeological Museum of Formia is situated in the city of Formia, specifically on the ground floor of the southern wing of the Municipal Palace. This location is steeped in history, being part of the 19th-century environments known as the “Stalloni dei Borbone”. This setting provides a unique backdrop for the museum's collection, adding an extra layer of historical context to the artifacts on display.

History and Collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Formia

The National Archaeological Museum of Formia was established in 1968 and underwent a significant expansion in 1997. The museum's collection primarily consists of sculptural finds, many of which were discovered in the monumental area of the Forum and the surrounding territory. The collection has been further enriched with new finds from the maritime villa of Gianola, adding to the diversity and historical significance of the artifacts on display.

Internal Gallery and the Group of Leda and the Swan

In the internal gallery of the National Archaeological Museum of Formia, visitors can view the group of Leda and the swan, placed in front of a portion of a fresco in the fourth style. Both of these pieces come from the cryptoportics of Piazza della Vittoria. The sculpture, a copy of a Greek original from 370-360 BC attributed to Timotheos, depicts the myth of the love between Leda and Zeus, who is in the guise of a swan. Dated to the 1st century AD, the sculpture shows the young queen, now headless, in a semi-seated position on a rock, welcoming the bird into her lap in a protective act.