Exhibition at Palazzo dei Pio Museums in Carpi featuring artifacts from the Egyptian Museum: scheduled from 18 September 2026 to 29 March 2027. Find opening times for weekdays and holidays, closures, ticket prices, and reductions. Entry is in slots every 20 minutes with a maximum of 20 people. Also includes info about online ticket sales and practical details to plan your visit.
“The Waters of Chaos and the Order of Maat” is the exhibition hosted at the Palazzo dei Pio Museums in Carpi, set up in the Sala dei Mori, with a selection of artifacts from the Egyptian Museum. It opens from 18 September 2026 and will be open until 29 March 2027. Admission is ticketed with entry slots every 20 minutes, and a maximum of 20 people per time slot.
The exhibition revolves around a tension that, for the ancient Egyptians, was not abstract: the contrast between Isefet, meaning Chaos (disorder, injustice, falsehood, and violence), and Maat, the goddess representing order, justice, and universal harmony. The central idea is that these two forces were opposite and complementary, and daily and religious life constantly sought balance.
The exhibition explains how this relationship was embodied in everyday objects, magical practices, and funerary rituals. So it’s not just a “mythological” story: visitors can see how the idea of containing chaos became concrete through amulets, ritual texts, stelae, and votive figures. The connection to FestivalFilosofia 2026 (dedicated to the theme of Chaos) is part of the exhibition’s context and helps explain why this theme comes to Carpi in 2026.
Among the most remarkable collections is the section dedicated to protection: a set of animal amulets designed to defend the person in life and the afterlife. In particular, the exhibition highlights eight amulets (four shaped like a frog and four like a snake) referring to the Ogdoad, the group of eight deities emerging from the Nun, the primordial watery mass associated with original chaos.
Another highlight is the Book of the Dead of Hor, a papyrus from the Ptolemaic Period, described as a collection of spells helpful for journeying into the afterlife towards the “light of day”. The most famous scene is the weighing of the heart, with the deceased before Osiris and 42 judges, a scene that aligns with the Egyptian concepts of measure, truth, and responsibility.
Alongside this ritual, the exhibition also features the heart scarab, made of green steatite, placed among the wrappings at the level of the heart: an object that, even in color, evokes the idea of rebirth. The route continues with bronze sculptures like the statuette of Thoth as an ibis (a deity linked to wisdom) and the statuette of the goddess Maat. The display is completed by a blue faience New Year’s flask, painted wooden ushabti and funerary stelae.
To plan your visit, it helps to clearly separate days and time slots. The exhibition has the following opening calendar: from Tuesday to Thursday the hours are 10:00–13:00; Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays the hours are 10:00–18:00. The closing day is Monday, with closures also on Christmas and New Year.
A practical detail affecting your planning is the entry method: access is by admission every 20 minutes with a maximum of 20 people per slot. This means your visit isn’t just “show up and go in”, but follows a schedule that may affect your arrival times, other appointments in town, and return trip.
To avoid confusion, it’s best to keep opening hours and entry times separate: the 10:00–13:00 or 10:00–18:00 times show when the exhibition is open, but entry is in timed groups.
The exhibition is ticketed and prices are: 6 euros for a full ticket and 4 euros for a reduced ticket. Reductions apply to 18–25 year olds, Touring Club and FAI members, and groups of at least 25 people. This is especially useful if you’re organising a group visit or belong to the eligible categories.
Online sales are through Vivaticket from 18 July (sales opening date), while the exhibition itself opens on 18 September 2026. In practice, sales and public opening don’t coincide: a detail that helps you plan ahead, especially during busy periods.
To check ticket availability, updates, and operational details, the best reference remains the official page of the “The Waters of Chaos and the Order of Maat” exhibition at Palazzo dei Pio.
Since the exhibition runs until 29 March 2027 and tickets are timed, good organisation makes all the difference: pick the right day, know what time to arrive, and leave yourself time between travelling, tickets, and entry slot. If your schedule includes other commitments (or you’re travelling from out of town), staying overnight can be a practical solution, reducing stress around arrival times.
When a stay is tied to a fixed-time visit, some services really impact logistics. At our Hotel Touring Carpi, check-in is from 2:00 pm and check-out is by 12:00 pm: key info to fit in travel, the exhibition, and your return without hassle. If you arrive before your room is ready, our luggage storage is available at reception. If you plan to start early, breakfast is served from 7:00 to 10:00 am.
Arriving by car may also require a choice: we have a small free car park with 5 unreservable spaces; alternatively, there’s a private video-surveilled car park, reservable at a cost of €12.00 per night. If you’re driving an electric car, we offer 2 wall-box charging stations (paid and by reservation).
Exhibitions, entry slots, and ticket availability may change during the period from 18 September 2026 to 29 March 2027. For this reason, check current information about opening hours, closures, prices, and online booking directly on the event’s official page at Palazzo dei Pio, where you’ll also find reliable details to organise your visit.
If you’re thinking of extending your stay in Carpi to better manage entry slots and times, you’ll find useful info and contacts on our website: Hotel Touring Carpi. To check dates and book, the easiest way is via the online booking and availability page.
The exhibition can be visited at the Palazzo dei Pio Museums in Carpi from 18 September 2026 to 29 March 2027. It is held in the Sala dei Mori with a selection of Egyptian Museum artifacts.
From Tuesday to Thursday the exhibition is open 10:00–13:00. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, opening hours are 10:00–18:00. Monday is the closing day, with additional closures on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Entry is not free flow: access is granted in time slots every 20 minutes. Each slot accommodates a maximum of 20 people, so it is advisable to consider available time slots when planning your arrival and visit.
Full-price tickets are €6 and reduced tickets are €4. Reductions apply to 18–25 year olds, Touring Club and FAI members, and groups of at least 25. Online sales on Vivaticket open from 18 July.
Hotel Touring Carpi è un hotel a Carpi ideale per chi visita la città per lavoro, turismo o un soggiorno alla scoperta del territorio modenese. Nel nostro Blog condividiamo consigli utili su cosa vedere a Carpi, eventi, itinerari, ristoranti, luoghi di interesse e suggerimenti per vivere al meglio la città e i suoi dintorni. Grazie alla conoscenza del territorio e all’esperienza nell’ospitalità, raccontiamo Carpi con contenuti pensati per chi cerca informazioni su dove soggiornare, cosa fare e quali esperienze vivere durante una visita in questa parte dell’Emilia-Romagna.
