Roof collapse at Palazzo Donna Olimpia Pamphili: Acquarossa finds moved

Palazzo Donna Olimpia Pamphili: urgent measures for Acquarossa artefacts

On 13 April 2026 the roof collapse at Palazzo Donna Olimpia Pamphili prompted immediate action to secure and preserve archaeological materials stored there from the Acquarossa excavations.

Immediate response: the Superintendency for archaeology, fine arts and landscape for the province of Viterbo and southern Etruria offered to take the items into its facilities, guaranteeing suitable conservation conditions and rapid protective measures.

At the same time, the municipal administration is assessing medium- and long-term solutions to permanently relocate the finds and restore public access. This includes considering buildings that will revert to municipal ownership after ongoing restoration and consolidation works on significant heritage properties.

Planned next steps

• Site stabilization and a full inventory of the materials;
• Temporary transfer to Superintendency stores to ensure controlled conservation;
• Assessment of municipal spaces available after restorations for a permanent repository;
• Development of conservation and exhibition projects to reopen the collection to the public.

Institutional cooperation is key to turning an emergency into an organised plan for protection and enhancement of local archaeological heritage, ensuring both the safety of the collections and their future accessibility.