Museo per la memoria di Ustica
Museum housing the wreck of the Itavia DC-9, shot down in 1980, and the permanent installation by Christian Boltanski; free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo per la Memoria di Ustica houses the remains of the Itavia DC-9, shot down on 27 June 1980 while heading for Palermo. The wreck, brought back to Bologna, is displayed inside a permanent installation that the artist Christian Boltanski created specifically for the city, titled “A proposito di Ustica” (Regarding Ustica) (2007). The museum belongs to MAMbo.
The project was driven by the determination of the Associazione dei Parenti delle Vittime della Strage di Ustica (Association of Relatives of the Victims of the Strage di Ustica), chaired by Daria Bonfietti, and was realised with contributions from the Comune di Bologna, the Regione Emilia-Romagna, the Provincia di Bologna and various ministries and foundations.
The route includes 81 lights that slowly switch on and off on the ceiling, 81 black mirrors along the walkway with as many loudspeakers broadcasting whispered phrases, and nine large black boxes arranged around the reconstructed aircraft, containing the personal belongings of the passengers. The objects are not visible: their images are collected in a publication that can be consulted in the room.
Key themes
- Reconstructed remains of the Itavia DC-9
- Permanent installation by Christian Boltanski
- 81 lights, 81 black mirrors and 81 loudspeakers for the victims
- Nine black boxes with the personal belongings of the passengers
Permanent exhibition
- A proposito di Ustica – installazione permanente di Christian Boltanski – Remains of the Itavia DC-9 surrounded by lights, black mirrors, loudspeakers and black boxes dedicated to the 81 victims.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Comune di Bologna – MAMbo (Settore Musei Civici)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 15,717
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission. Online booking via MidaTicket is recommended to avoid queues, but not compulsory.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website refers to the page “Informazioni per una visita in sicurezza” (Information for a Safe Visit) without describing accessibility details. Only guide dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
Paid parking along Via di Saliceto.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours on request: write to the MAMbo Education Department (mamboedu@comune.bologna.it). Online bookings cannot be changed or cancelled by the museum. |
