04/04 2016

Archeological findings in the garden of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts

First results of the archeological digs in the garden of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA) show the exact location and the state of preservation of the ancient citadel of Alva. 

Underneath the museum site, archeologists found the Fernando bastion, one of the five ones belonging to the old citadel, and the flank of the main wall made of bricks and stone is now lying bare. Archeological finds include the bastion’s gun emplacement, a discovery that enrich the understanding of Antwerp’s military past.

The excavation will be carried out along with the renovation works of the museum.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts will open its doors in 2019.

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photo © Karin Borghouts