Museo Internazionale della Zampogna “P. Vecchione”

About the museum

Scapoli, in the upper Volturno Valley, is known as the “capital of the zampogna”: here the craft tradition of building zampogne and ciaramelle survives, handed down by a few families of makers. The museum originated from an idea of Pasquale Vecchione, to whom it is now dedicated, and was inaugurated in 2002 as a tribute to this musical culture.

The seat is Palazzo Mancini, a building restored with careful architectural work that overlooks the village. The route extends over three floors and presents, in thematic order, zampogne and other wind instruments from many periods and origins, together with iconographic and literary documentation and a reconstruction of the old workshop of the Scapoli makers.

In 2023 the museum was renovated thanks to funding from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, under the project “Note di innovazione”, which made the visit multimedia and interactive and digitised the heritage. A dedicated app and a website allow visitors to consult the descriptions of the instruments and listen to their sound.

The collection comprises the zampogne of Scapoli, Italian instruments and instruments from other countries, including Sardinian launeddas, Armenian duduk, Australian didgeridoo and Irish bagpipes, and a permanent Neapolitan nativity scene made by the craftsmen of San Gregorio Armeno.

Highlights

• Over 160 wind instruments from around the world
• Collection of zampogne and ciaramelle from Scapoli
• Old workshop of the Scapoli makers
• App with beacons and QR codes for listening to the instruments
• Permanent Neapolitan nativity scene by the craftsmen of San Gregorio Armeno

Permanent exhibitions

• Zampogne di Scapoli – Zampogne and ciaramelle by the Scapoli makers, with a reconstruction of the old craft workshop.
• Strumenti nazionali e internazionali – Wind instruments from Italy and other countries, such as launeddas, duduk, didgeridoo and bagpipes.
• Presepe napoletano permanente – Nativity scene in the Neapolitan style, made by the artisans of San Gregorio Armeno.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Comune di Scapoli

Visitors per year

approx. 1,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for tourist guides accompanying groups and for teachers accompanying school classes.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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