The Archaeological Museum contains one of the most important collections of Etruscan art in the world. It is housed in the Palazzo della Crocetta, which was built for Grand Duchess Maria Luisa of Austria in 1620, likely by Giulio Parigi. Established in 1870, the museum was relocated to its current location in 1880.
Today, visitors can see a large part of the ancient Medici-Lorraine collections (including ceramics, bronzes, and other stone sculptures, including the Monetiere, one of the main collections of ancient coins and gems among the largest and most prestigious in the world), the Museo Egizio (including a selection of Coptic fabrics), part of the topographical section, with large Etruscan funerary complexes from princely tombs, the monumental garden, and a rich selection of Greek vases found in Etruscan tombs (and beyond), some of which are renowned worldwide, such as the famous François Vase.