Planetario di Caserta
Digital planetarium with live lecture-shows and a small museum of scientific instruments, minerals and models, in the Centurano district of Caserta.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The idea of a planetarium in Caserta dates back to 1995, when the astrophysicist Luigi Antonio Smaldone proposed it, but the project was shelved and only taken up again in 2005 as part of the European URBAN II project. The planetarium occupies an extension of the middle school “L. Vanvitelli”, formerly a school library. The works were completed at the end of October 2008, and the facility was inaugurated on 19 December 2008, with the dome built by the French firm RSA Cosmos.
From 2008 to 2012 the Municipality’s Culture Office managed the planetarium directly; since 9 August 2012 it has been entrusted to a temporary association formed by three schools. In 2016 the municipality formally established the planetarium and adopted its regulations.
The digital dome presents original lecture-shows, delivered live by a narrator and lasting about 70 minutes, on topics of astronomy and the history of science, with links to the local area. The museum route, of five rooms, displays original scientific instruments and copies from 1880 to 1990, physics and astronomy books, interactive installations, models of spacecraft, rocks and minerals, and a section on astronomy in ancient civilisations.
Highlights
- Digital dome with live lecture-shows of about 70 minutes
- Five-room museum route with scientific instruments from 1880 to 1990
- Interactive installations and models of spacecraft
- Collection of rocks and minerals
- Science workshops for schools
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale del Planetario – Five rooms with scientific instruments from 1880 to 1990, books, interactive installations, spacecraft models, rocks and minerals, and a section on astronomy in ancient civilisations.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Comune di Caserta (gestione: Associazione Temporanea di Scopo «Planetario di Caserta»)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 2,065 (2022)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5.50people under 25 and every member of families of at least three people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 3 · Free admission for children under 4. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for the person with a disability and for the companion. |
| Show for private groups (up to 40 people) | €220From the 41st to the 50th participant, €5.50 per person. |
| Lecture-show for nursery and primary schools (up to 40 pupils) | €140From the 41st to the 51st pupil, €3.50 per person; teachers and people with disabilities free. |
Tickets must always be paid in advance by bank transfer (not instant). Cash and cards are not accepted. Prices valid from 1 January 2025.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website states that access is guaranteed for people with mobility disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The programme includes shows for children and science workshops; a recommended minimum age is indicated for each public show.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Urban line 02UC of AIR Campania from the railway station, on weekdays.
From the centre of Caserta the planetarium can be reached on foot in about 15 minutes. The website also gives car routes from the A1 Caserta Nord, Caserta Sud and Santa Maria Capua Vetere toll exits. It is located in the Parco degli Aranci (zona 167), in the Centurano area.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Planetarium activities are suspended. For updates, please contact the facility directly.
Events & venue rental
Planetarium activities are suspended. For updates, please contact the facility directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The dome show lasts about 70 minutes. The museum route (about 25 minutes, recommended from age 8) is included in the ticket for public opening dates and is usually visited from 30 minutes before the show; it cannot be visited without attending a show. For schools a guided tour of about 20 minutes is available, and science workshops are planned. |
