Szombathely - Sala Terrena
During the construction works of the diocese buildings a great number of stonework remains of the ancient town of Savaria were excavated, which used to be exhibited in the ornamental garden that only existed then and in the Sala Terrena, the hall on the ground
floor, in the north axis of the Episcopal Palace. The room of the Sala Terrena was the first archeological exhibition room (lapidarium) in 1784, whose frescos were painted by István Dorffmaister (appr.1725-1797).
At the end of the 19th century the hall was under the control of the Archeological Society in Vas County, and then it was closed after the bombardment against Szombathely on 4th March, 1945. After several decades it was reopened for visitors in 1990 following the necessary reconstruction works. In the following year new rooms were opened to enlarge the museum where a generous treasury collection was exhibited.
On the walls of the Sala Terrena besides some mythological personalities you can see the painted architectural compositions of the ancient Rome: the Triumphal Arch of Titus and the
Porta Maggiore, according to Piranesi prints. The parts of the buildings recall the era and the settings from which the exhibits are originated. On the painted walls the stone remains of the ancient Savaria can be depicted in scale relations. There are some original stone remains standing in front of the artefacts painted more than two hundred years ago.