Ptuj Regional Museum

The museum (Pokrajinski muzej Ptuj) [http://www.pok-muzej-ptuj.si] (phone: +386 2 748 03 60) is the biggest and most popular general museum in the Ptuj region. Its collections cover local prehistoric and antique sites (Roman Poetovio), the period of migrations of peoples, medieval and modern age monuments, and the area's rich folklore traditions.

The museum spans several buildings and sites. You can pay individually for each site or buy a ticket that will get you into multiple sites. Ticket 1, for all the buildings in Ptuj excluding the shrines, is 3€/5€/6€ (child/senior/adult). Ticket 2, for all buildings and shrines, is 4.50€/7.50€/9€ (child/senior/adult).

The various parts of the museum are:

* The monastery was first built in the 13th century and features a variety of architectural styles. Highlights include the vaulted ceiling of the cloister, artwork and the rich stucco facade. It is now part of the regional museum with displays of ancient coins, artifacts, tombstones and other stone-work.

* An art exhibition hall.

* The biggest temple of Mithras was erected in the western area of Roman Poetovio (in what is today part of the Breg neighbourhood of Ptuj). The temple, built in the mid-3rd century, contains mainly sacrificial altars, with dedications of soldiers belonging to the Roman legions under Flavius Aprus. The temple consists of three sections, of which the central one is lowered. On the wall opposite the entrance is a fresco, a copy of the altar relief from the Mithras Shrine in Osterburken in Germany. The dedication stones show a variety of artistic representations and are full of symbols relating to the legend of Mithras.

* Build on a steep hill overlooking the town, the castle is now part of the regional museum. It hosts a collection of items marking feudal culture from the 16th to the 20th century. Displays include a collection of musical instruments, medieval arms and period furnishings. One of the most interesting is the collection of traditional carnival masks from Ptuj area.