Museo Loreto Grande
Museum of history and nature in Villavallelonga, named after the botanist Loreto Grande, with rooms on the Marsican brown bear, wildlife, traditions and a herbarium.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The building, at Fonte Vecchia above 1,000 metres altitude, once housed the visitor centre of the Parco nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise and was dedicated to the Marsican brown bear. After reopening in 2009 it was run by a cooperative from Avezzano; since 15 August 2021 it has been managed by the Comune di Villavallelonga, which renewed the offer and named the museum after Loreto Grande.
Grande, born in Villavallelonga in 1878, was a self-taught naturalist who worked at the Botanical Garden of Naples and published several scientific contributions on the flora of the area. The rooms, with ecological furnishings made largely of recycled cardboard to a design by Rosa Ferrari, address different themes, from the life of the botanist to a sensory room that recreates the forest.
The route also presents local traditions, in particular the “brutte” (ugly) masks of the feast of Sant’Antonio Abate, as well as stuffed animals, a large reconstruction of a bear in its habitat, birds, Marsican bear tracks, herbaria and photographs of the local flora. A children’s educational trail explains the habits of the bear and other animals of the area.
Highlights
- Rooms on the life of the botanist Loreto Grande
- Reconstruction of the Marsican brown bear in its habitat
- “Brutte” (ugly) masks of the Sant’Antonio Abate festival
- Herbarium and photographs of local flora
- Sensory room that recreates the forest
- Displays made of recycled cardboard
Permanent exhibition
- Storia e natura di Villavallelonga – Rooms on Loreto Grande, the Marsican brown bear, wildlife, flora and local traditions.
- Operated by
- Comune di Villavallelonga
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
There is an educational trail for children on the habits of the bear and other local animals.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & 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
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum and its activities are also designed for environmental education for schools and groups. |
