The Trabocchi Coast is one of the most beautiful and fascinating coastal stretches in Italy. It possesses a unique natural heritage. But not only that. There are also several museums in this area, rich in history and tradition, which we suggest you visit and which, we are sure, will pleasantly surprise you.
What museums on the Trabocchi Coast are not to be missed? Let’s find out about them together!
MICHETTI MUSEUM
Francavilla al Mare is home to the Michetti Museum (abbreviated MuMi), dedicated to the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti, one of the leading figures on the Italian and international art scene of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Opened in 1997, it is housed in the structure of Palazzo San Domenico, a former Dominican convent of 13th-century foundation that has been restored and expanded. On display inside are works of contemporary art owned by the Michetti Foundation along with a collection of 25 Etruscan artifacts preserved in excellent condition and named “Carlo Alberto Fraracci Donation.” Among the most interesting works are two famous canvases by Michetti, namely “The Serpents” and “The Cripples,” which were presented at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.
ENZO MAIO MASCI NAVAL MUSEUM
Also in Francavilla al Mare is the Naval Museum named after Enzo Maio Masci, an old sailor who devoted 30 years to collecting naval-related memorabilia. Opened in 2015, it is housed in the municipal premises of the Ciarrapico Tower, a prestigious 17th-century building located in the Civitella neighborhood. The exhibition itinerary is divided into four sections: monumental exterior, where a striking monument dedicated to sailors who died in the line of duty has been erected; exhibition, in which naval memorabilia of various kinds are presented; commemorative, dedicated to the memory of the forty sailors from Francavilla who fell in the service of the Navy during World War II; and the international library on the Navy, which collects about five thousand volumes.
MUSEUM OF THE BATTLE OF ORTONA
The Museum of the Battle of Ortona (or simply MuBa 43) documents the dramatic wartime events that led to the almost total destruction of the city in 1943. Set up in the St. Anne’s complex, it aims to convey a message of peace to new generations. It displays memorabilia, photos, blow-ups and war relics collected around Ortona, including uniforms and personal items of soldiers. The exhibition is divided into three sections: the first is devoted to civilians who suffered the consequences of war; the second to those who fought the war; and the third to military strategy. The museum also has a Memory Bank in digital format composed of the narratives of direct witnesses.
DIOCESAN MUSEUM OF ORTONA
Also undoubtedly worth a visit is the Ortona Diocesan Museum (originally the Cathedral Museum), one of the most important sacred art museums in the region. Opened in 1988 and expanded in 2003, it is housed in several spaces attached to the majestic Cathedral of St. Thomas the Apostle, formerly private chapels. Its interior houses numerous artistic artifacts that escaped the devastating World War II bombings that ravaged the city, including paintings, sculptures, goldwork, sacred vestments, votive offerings, and wooden furnishings. Among the works featured are 17th-century paintings by the Ortonese, but Venetian by adoption, Tommaso Alessandrini and 16th-century paintings by the Lombard Giovanni Battista Rusconi.
D’AVALOS PALACE CIVIC MUSEUMS
Finally, we recommend visiting the Civic Museums of Palazzo d’Avalos in Vasto. The palace is one of the most significant examples of 16th-century Abruzzo Renaissance architecture. Located behind St. Joseph’s Cathedral, it dominates the landscape with its grandeur and its spectacular Neapolitan garden (from which you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Vasto). It houses as many as four museums inside: the Archaeological Museum, one of the oldest in Abruzzo, documenting the history of the area; the Costume Museum, which includes a collection of Abruzzi clothing dating from the early 1800s to the early 1900s and a collection of paintings and lithographs depicting traditional clothing; the Art Gallery, with works by the Palizzi brothers donated to the city in 1898; and the Contemporary Art Collection, with works by Italian and Spanish artists.
Feature photo Michetti Museum © Ministero della Cultura
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