The Egyptian Museum of Turin

The Egyptian Museum of Turin, located in the heart of Piedmont, stands out as one of the world’s most important institutions entirely dedicated to Ancient Egypt. For the extraordinary number and inestimable value of its artifacts, it is often considered second only to the famous museum in Cairo. The official history of the Egyptian Museum dates back to 1824, when Charles Felix of Savoy acquired the vast collection of Bernardino Drovetti, who at the time was the French Consul General in Egypt. This initial nucleus was later greatly expanded thanks to further acquisitions and, above all, to numerous finds discovered during archaeological excavations conducted by prominent figures such as Ernesto Schiaparelli in the early 20th century, helping to make it the magnificent museum we admire today.

The collections on display are truly countless and of immeasurable value, offering a privileged insight into Egyptian civilization. Among its most famous treasures is the Tomb of Kha and Merit, an incredibly complete and intact funerary assemblage discovered in the village of Deir el-Medina, belonging to the royal architect Kha and his wife Merit. Another highly significant piece is the Rock Temple of Ellesija, carved directly into the rock and donated to Italy by the Egyptian government as a token of gratitude for Italy’s help in saving the Nubian monuments threatened by the construction of the Aswan Dam. Also noteworthy are the impressive representations of the pharaohs, such as the majestic statue of Ramses II, displayed alongside the Sarcophagus of Nefertari, his wife.

The museum also preserves ancient documents of exceptional historical importance, including the Turin King List, also known as the Royal Canon of Turin, one of the primary sources for the sequence of Egyptian rulers, and the Gold Mines Papyrus, an ancient map detailing the gold mines of the Eastern Desert. Among the most distinctive objects are the Mensa Isiaca, a bronze table from the 1st century AD depicting Egyptian deities, and the Painted Cloth of Gebelein, a textile that offers a valuable glimpse into daily life in ancient Egypt. Naturally, the museum also displays a wide variety of mummies, sarcophagi, papyri, statues, amulets, and numerous objects illustrating daily life in that era.

Publications and Research at the Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum of Turin is not only a place of exhibition but also an internationally renowned research center, constantly producing new works and studies. There are numerous publications related to the museum, both educational and scientific, aimed at different audiences and levels of expertise.

Among the official books and catalogues are the Museum Guides, available in several languages, which accompany visitors along the exhibition route and highlight the most significant works. For each temporary exhibition organized by the museum, a dedicated exhibition catalogue is usually published, enriched with essays by specialists and images of the works on display. The museum also boasts a long tradition of publishing catalogues of its collections, scientific volumes, and works focused on specific sections or types of artifacts — such as the renowned “Illustrated Catalogue of the Egyptian Monuments of the Royal Museum of Turin” by Pier Camillo Orcurti (1852).

In addition, the museum publishes thematic and popular books on specific topics related to ancient Egypt, often with a more accessible approach for the general public, covering themes such as deities, hieroglyphs, or historical figures like Tutankhamun.

On the scientific side, the museum edits the Journal of the Egyptian Museum (RiME), a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes original research articles in Egyptology, archaeology, and conservation — often connected to the museum’s collections and archaeological missions. The journal’s archives are also available online. Furthermore, the museum publishes books and monographs within special scientific series, dedicated to the results of archaeological research, material studies, or in-depth analyses of specific artifacts.

Address: Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6 – 10123 Turin

Opening Hours:

• Monday: 09:00 – 14:00
• Tuesday–Sunday: 09:00 – 18:30
• Special openings/closings on certain dates (e.g., August 13–14, 2025: 09:00 – 20:00)

Tickets:

Admission is granted only to those holding an online ticket. Ticket sales are open until October 26, 2025.

• Full price: €18.00
• Family (2 adults + 2 minors): €36.00
• Reduced (ages 6–14): €1.00
• Reduced (ages 15–18, university students, National Youth Card): €3.00
• Free: children 0–5 years old, disability companions, persons with disabilities, Museum Subscription holders, Torino+Piemonte Card, etc.

Contacts:

• Phone: +39 011 440 6903 (booking office, Monday–Saturday, 9:00–18:00)
• Email: [email protected]
• Websites: musei.torino.it / egizio.museitorino.it / museoegizio.it

Cover photo credits: PK289