Among the main archaeological sites of Calabria, that of Capo Colonna has always been linked to the history of Crotone. During the Greek and Roman times it was called the Lacinium promontory and there was a large sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera, whose fame and wealth are mentioned in ancient literary sources.
The myth recalls the presence of a sacred wood and the passage of Heracles with the oxen of Geryon. A memorial cult of the great hero of the Trojan war, Achilles, was also practiced here.
The veneration that was paid to Hera Lacinia made devotees of various origins converge towards her temple, with rich votive gifts. The sanctuary, also remembered for having been frequented by the great philosopher Pythagoras, gained such fame that it probably became the seat of the Italiot league, a political and military confederation that brought together all the Greeks of the West.
The Museum is located at the entrance to the Archaeological Park. Inaugurated in 2006, it offers an exhibition itinerary divided into three sections, within large open space rooms. The first section is dedicated to the Roman town. The showcases and exhibition spaces offer the main ceramic classes and some objects of common use, which for daily needs were used in patrician residences and in more modest homes.
The second section illustrates the sanctuary of Hera Lacinia, dedicating itself to building B and the architectural organization of the great temple of the goddess. The third and last is a section of underwater archeology, in which a series of discoveries occurred in the sea surrounding the promontory are presented; particularly the wreck of Punta Scifo, a large transport boat of which a large part of the cargo consisting of semi-finished marbles was recovered and destined to enrich important properties of the emperor in Rome.
