Museo delle Armi e delle Mappe Antiche della Fortezza di Civitella del Tronto
Museum of weapons and antique maps housed in the great Spanish fortress of Civitella del Tronto, the last Bourbon stronghold to fall, in 1861.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The fortress stands on the crag overlooking the village of Civitella del Tronto, at over 600 metres above sea level, and is one of the largest defensive works in southern Italy. The present complex was built in travertine in the second half of the 16th century, under Spanish viceregal rule, on earlier fortifications that already in the Middle Ages guarded the northern border of the Kingdom of Naples.
Over the centuries the fortress withstood numerous sieges, including the French sieges of 1798 and 1806. The most famous was the siege of 1860–1861: after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, the Bourbon garrison surrendered only on 20 March 1861, making Civitella the last stronghold of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to fall. After its military role ended, the fortress fell into disuse and underwent a major restoration in the 1970s and 1980s.
The elongated complex, about 500 metres long, includes parade grounds, bastions, terraces, the Palazzo del Governatore and the church of San Giacomo. The Museo delle Armi e delle Mappe Antiche, which opened in the late 1980s, is housed in the rooms of the former kitchens and refectory. It holds weapons from the Renaissance to the Risorgimento (Italian unification), historical maps and memorabilia linked to the unification of Italy.
Highlights
- One of the largest Spanish fortresses in Italy
- Museo delle Armi e delle Mappe Antiche
- Last Bourbon stronghold to fall, in 1861
- Bastions, parade grounds and Palazzo del Governatore
- View of the Gran Sasso and the Teramo coast
Permanent exhibition
- Museo delle Armi e delle Mappe Antiche – Four rooms in the former kitchens, with weapons from the Renaissance to the Risorgimento, historical maps and memorabilia of the 1860–1861 siege.
- Visitors per year
- approx. 36,061
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8Over 65s, groups of at least 20 people, university students, members of Touring, FAI, ARCI and COOP |
| Children & teens | €2free up to age 5 · Reduced rate for children and young people aged 6 to 17: €2 |
| Seniors | €8Over 65s |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities |
| Students & apprentices | €8University students |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8 per personGroups of at least 20 people |
| Single ticket + guided tour, adults (fortress, museums and village) | €18Tour of about 2 hours, booking required |
| Single ticket + guided tour, young people aged 6–17 | €7 |
The single ticket covers the fortress, the Museo delle Armi and the Museo Nina, and does not include a guided tour. Free admission for children aged 0 to 5, people with disabilities, ICOM members, clergy and residents of Civitella del Tronto. Prices do not include online purchase fees.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
On selected dates the fortress offers the activity “Bimbi al Museo” for children aged 3 to 11, with booking required online or by phone.
Getting there & parking
Ticket office in Largo Vinciguerra, at the fortress information point.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The guided tour takes in the Museo Nina, the village (monument to Matteo Wade, the Chiesa della Scopa, the Ruetta) and the fortress with the Museo delle Armi. Booking required; minimum 15 participants, groups of up to 30 people at a rate of €120. The ticket office is at Largo Vinciguerra, at the fortress information point; for groups, at the Museo Nina, Corso Mazzini 75. |
