Plastici ferroviari Cidneo e Villa d'Almè

About the museum

The Club Fermodellistico Bresciano, founded in 1957, is based in the Sala del Grande Miglio inside the castle of Brescia, on the Cidneo hill. On 21 December 1969 the club inaugurated the “Cidneo” layout, at that time the largest model railway open to the public in Europe. Built in HO scale, it has more than 18 trains running at the same time on 8 lines, a large freight yard and a landscape detailed with care, updated over time with more modern electrical systems and automation.

In a nearby room is the Villa d’Almè layout, one of the oldest HO-scale layouts built in the world. Engineer Mario Boccalari of Bergamo began building it in the late 1940s in the cellar of his house in Villa d’Almè. In the 1950s the layout was dismantled and moved to the club’s premises, where it remains today. After a long restoration it reopened to the public in 1992.

The two rooms also contain other layouts, including a scale-0 line reproducing the passenger station building of Torino Porta Nuova. At the entrance to the castle park, the club placed steam locomotive no. 1 of the Brescia–Edolo railway in 1961, Italy’s first railway monument.

Highlights

• Cidneo layout in HO scale with more than 18 trains on 8 lines
• Villa d’Almè layout, one of the oldest HO layouts in the world
• Scale-0 line with the passenger station building of Torino Porta Nuova
• Steam locomotive no. 1 of the Brescia–Edolo railway, a monument from 1961

Permanent exhibitions

• Plastico Cidneo – Large HO-scale model railway inaugurated in 1969, with more than 18 trains running on 8 lines.
• Plastico di Villa d'Almè – One of the oldest HO-scale model railways in the world, built in the late 1940s.

Founded

1969

Operated by

Club Fermodellistico Bresciano

Visitors per year

approx. 15,000

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the layouts is free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

There are car parks along the road to the castle, including spaces for people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Trains running on large layouts, also suitable for children.

Getting there & parking

By car, follow the signs for the centre and for the Castello, or the yellow tourist signs “Museo delle armi Luigi Marzoli”.

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