Santa Giulia Museum

All’interno del complesso monumentale sono allestite le sezioni del museo. I percorsi di visita si snodano negli spazi monastici aprendosi in luoghi ed edifici particolarmente significativi quali, ad esempio, un’area archeologica con due abitazioni di età romana (I-III secolo d.C.), la basilica longobarda di San Salvatore (VIII secolo d.C.), il Coro delle monache (inizio del XVI secolo) e l’Oratorio romanico di Santa Maria in Solario (XII secolo), nel quale le monache custodivano il tesoro del monastero, di cui ancora rimangono la Lipsanoteca, un prezioso contenitore in avorio per reliquie, e la Croce di Desiderio ornata da 212 gemme, opera di oreficeria carolingia.
The sections of the museum are housed inside the monumental complex. Visitors’ itineraries pass through the monastery areas, leading to particularly significant zones and buildings, such as an archaeological area with two Roman period town houses (1^st – 3^rd century AD), the Lombard church of San Salvatore (8^th century AD), the Nuns’ Choir (early 16^th century) and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Solario (12^th century). The last of these was where the nuns kept the monastery treasures, of which still remain the Lipsanotheca, a precious ivory container for holy relics, and the Cross of Desiderius – made by Carolingian goldsmiths and adorned with 212 gems.
The church of San Salvatore is one of the most important examples of Lombard religious architecture. King Desiderius founded the monastery in AD 753, dedicating it to Saint Saviour; the mausoleum-church would have been a symbol of the dynastic power of the monarchy and the Lombard duchies.