It was established in 1996, thanks to the Fondazione Carivit and the Municipality of Viterbo, who wanted to encourage cultural and scientific meetings in the city in order to promote, enhance and support knowledge of local history, as well as the history and evolution of ceramics.

In 2017, Viterbo joined the national network of the Ceramics Cities and the museum was enriched with initiatives, events, exhibitions and meetings organised for the development of traditional artistic ceramics.

The Museum is located on the ground floor of the historic Palazzo Brugiotti.

There are currently 430 exhibits on display. The collection is displayed in 7 exhibition rooms which reconstruct the evolution of the various types of ceramics produced in Upper Lazio from the end of the 12th century up to the 19th century.

The most represented period is the Medieval age, in which simple impasto ceramics, pieces painted under glaze, archaic majolica objects in manganese brown and copper green, and  pieces in the Sapphire and green in relief style stand out.

The collection is completed by sections dedicated to Renaissance ceramics, apothecary wares, the collection of the pharmacy of the Ospedale Grande degli Infermi of Viterbo from the 16th-17th centuries, and the Ceramiche da Spezieria e d’Amore dating from the end of the 15th century to the 16th century.

The Museum houses a conference room with around 70 seats and visitors can also find a splendid ‘surprise’ garden adorned with figurative fountains and lush vegetation.

As of 2022, the Museum is among the museums included in the Viterbo Pass, thanks to the collaboration between ArcheoAres snc, Comune di Viterbo and Mu.Vi. (Musei di Viterbo).