Narona Archaeological Museum
A museum built over a Roman temple to the emperors, with the statues standing where they fell.
Updated 12 October 2026
Excavation at Vid in 1995 and 1996 uncovered the Augusteum of Narona, a temple of the imperial cult, with a group of large marble statues of emperors and members of the imperial family lying where they had been toppled - one of the most complete such groups found anywhere in the Roman world. Rather than remove them, a museum was built directly over the site and opened in 2007, so visitors walk above and around the temple floor with the sculptures standing in position on it. Narona was a substantial Roman town in the Neretva valley, and the surrounding material is displayed on the upper levels.
The main sights
- An imperial cult temple in situ - the Augusteum, excavated in the 1990s.
- Statues where they fell - one of the fullest such groups known.
- A museum built over the site - opened in 2007 around the excavation.
- Narona's wider finds - on the levels above the temple floor.
When to go
Year round; hours are longer in summer. Two hours.
What to expect
Several of the statues are headless or damaged - they were deliberately thrown down. The museum is small and in a village well off the main routes. It is an hour's detour from the coast road.
Nearby
The Neretva delta is south; Metkovic is a few minutes away.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q12627202, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Narona Archaeological Museum
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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