The Museum was established in 1969 and named after Count Vito Capialbi (1790-1853). A scholar of the place animated by an antiquarian spirit, he was the first to collect and guard the testimonies of the life of the city, reconstructing its history from the foundation of the Locrese colony of Hipponion to the establishment of the Roman colony of Valentia. Initially housed in the ancient Palazzo Gagliardi, since 1995 the Museum has been housed in the Norman-Swabian Castle of the city which, in its original and oldest structure, dates back to the era of Frederick II. The reuse of the imposing monumental complex was made possible by a careful restoration and functional recovery. The materials on display come from excavations carried out in the city and in its territory starting from the first research carried out by Paolo Orsi in 1921. Alongside the finds found in archaeological investigations, there are those from the prestigious Capialbi, Cordopatri and Albanese collections. illustrate the history and archeology of the area, from prehistory (first floor) to the Greek age (ground floor and first floor) and to the Roman and medieval age (ground floor). with artifacts from the protohistoric age and with finds from excavations conducted in the sacred areas of the Magna Graecia city. The sacred area of Scrimbia has returned artefacts dating back to between the end of the seventh and the end of the fifth century BC: Corinthian, rhodian and Attic ceramics, including large ones, bronze basins and helmets, votive statuettes and goldsmiths of considerable quality, including including earrings, rings, brooches, pins. The architectural fragments of a large Doric temple, dating back to around 550 BC, were found in the same area. Some pinakes of typical production of Locri Epizefiri and two models of a terracotta temple, rich in detail, come from the Cofino. Hipponion necropolis (late 7th - 4th century BC), among which a golden flake stands out attesting the Orphic cult with an inscription in the Doric-Ionic dialect that provides advice for the passage of the deceased into the world of the dead. materials from the Roman age. The statues of togates and the marble head of Agrippa are of considerable workmanship, some sepulchral kits with very refined decorations, containers and ointments in glass of exquisite workmanship.A special section on the first floor exhibits part of the Capialbi collection, with the rich coin cabinet which represents one of the most important numismatic references in Calabria. A great deal of attention is paid to underwater archeology: among the various finds, the partial reconstruction of the keel of a boat and some amphorae and anchors from different eras are presented. Vibonese backdrops.