MAXXI L'Aquila
The L'Aquila branch of the MAXXI in the 18th-century Palazzo Ardinghelli: exhibitions of art, architecture and photography with works from the MAXXI Collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
MAXXI L'Aquila, the seat of the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo (National Museum of 21st-Century Arts), opened in 2020 in Palazzo Ardinghelli, in the historic centre of L'Aquila, a short walk from the Fontana Luminosa and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The building was designed between 1732 and 1743 by the Roman architect Francesco Fontana, son of the more famous Carlo. It is characterised by its façade and courtyard, from which rises a monumental staircase of Borrominian inspiration, frescoed in 1744 by the Venetian painter Vincenzo Damini.
The palace was severely damaged by the 2009 earthquake and restored by the Ministry of Culture with funding from the Russian government. The layout and adaptation of the spaces were designed by technicians from the MAXXI Foundation together with the Ministry. The inner courtyard, which links Piazza Santa Maria Paganica and Via Garibaldi, makes the museum also a public space available to the city.
As in the Rome headquarters, MAXXI L'Aquila brings visual arts, performance, photography and architecture into dialogue. Alongside site-specific projects, the rooms host works from the MAXXI Collection within a programme of temporary exhibitions, accompanied by talks, workshops, educational projects and training activities.
Highlights
- Palazzo Ardinghelli, an 18th-century Baroque building
- Monumental staircase frescoed by Vincenzo Damini
- Works from the MAXXI Collection
- Exhibitions of art, architecture and photography
- Inner courtyard open to the city
- Founded
- 2020
- Operated by
- Fondazione MAXXI – Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Young people aged 18 to under 25, groups of 10 people, holders of partner cards |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free with a disability card or accompanying letter, for the person with a disability and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students and university researchers of art and architecture from the European Union, and for students of public Academies of Fine Arts on weekdays. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personReduced rate for groups of 10 people; groups must book their visiting slot by email and buy tickets in advance. |
| Open ticket | €12Valid for one entry within a year of purchase. |
Free admission: Free admission on your birthday with an identity document.
Free admission also for residents of L'Aquila, holders of myMAXXI and Amici del MAXXI cards, ICOM members, accredited journalists, and one teacher for every 10 students. Change of date up to the day before the visit (by 18:00) for €2.50. Ticket office assistance: 800 266 300, every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Barrier-free main entrance; the piano nobile (main floor) and the turret are reached by a short, gently sloping route or by lift. A free manual wheelchair is available at the cloakroom (also by reservation), with rest seats along the route and accessible toilets on the ground floor. Vehicles with a disabled badge may enter the ZTL and park in the reserved bays. Guided tours with tactile exploration are held periodically.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
The museum runs an education office and educational activities. Nearby streets have courtesy “pink parking” spaces for pregnant women and parents with small children.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Piazza Battaglione Alpini (Fontana Luminosa) · 7-min walk · 400 m
AMA urban buses (most vehicles have low floors): stop at Piazza Battaglione Alpini (Fontana Luminosa) or Viale Nizza.
By car
Parking available
The museum is in a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) and sometimes a pedestrian area, so public car parks outside the centre are recommended, in particular the Mega Parcheggio di Collemaggio (bus terminal), from which free shuttles and buses run to the centre.
- Accessible parking
From the Piazza Battaglione Alpini stop, walk down Corso Vittorio Emanuele and turn into Via Garibaldi as far as Piazza Santa Maria Paganica (5–7 minutes on foot).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check
Free cloakroom for helmets, umbrellas, large bags and bulky items.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and amateur video recording are allowed in the galleries, except in areas where it is prohibited. Professional filming requires authorisation from the Foundation. |
| Good to know | Food, drinks and animals (except guide dogs) are not allowed. Groups must book their visiting slot by email. |
