L’Aquila: Museums, Basilicas and Roman History

L’Aquila offers several distinct highlights to consider when planning your trip: art collections and temporary exhibitions, Roman archaeology, religious history, and destinations in the surrounding area. Routes and modes of transport also vary: the Destinazione Gran Sasso route can be travelled by car and partly on foot, while Gran Sasso can be reached by car or bus. This lets you choose what will shape your stay: museums, historic buildings or an excursion.

Art, Architecture and Collections

MAXXI L’Aquila is housed in Palazzo Ardinghelli. Its rooms feature works from the MAXXI collection, as well as temporary exhibitions on art, architecture and photography. MuNDA focuses on a different period: its selection spans the Middle Ages to the modern era. The two institutions therefore appeal to different interests: temporary exhibitions are part of the programme at MAXXI, while MuNDA centres on a collection of works from several periods. MuNDA also offers guided tours and discovery activities for children. If younger visitors are a consideration in your plans, this is a distinct factor to take into account when choosing.

Roman Architecture in Amiternum

The Archaeological Park of Amiternum offers a glimpse of structures from different periods. The theatre was built there first, in the second half of the 1st century BC. The amphitheatre followed later, towards the end of the 1st century AD; it too is dated to the 1st century AD. The complex also included temples and other richly decorated buildings. This chronology highlights the difference between the earlier theatre and the later amphitheatre.

The Archaeological Park offers educational activities for families and school groups. If you plan to take part in one, check in advance whether a reservation is required and how it will be run, as arrangements may change. MuNDA also offers guided tours and discovery activities as a way for children to engage with its collection. The two venues thus differ in their setting: a museum collection on one hand, an archaeological park on the other.

Perdonanza Celestiniana and Basilicas

The Perdonanza Celestiniana was instituted by Pope Celestine V in 1294. The celebration, “The Celestinian Forgiveness,” is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Visitors can attend and take part on 28 and 29 August. If you want to plan your trip around these dates, check the schedule for the relevant travel year.

At the Basilica di Collemaggio, tradition is linked to a historic route: according to tradition, Pope Celestine V was crowned in the basilica in 1294. It stands at the arrival and starting point of the Tratturo Magno between L’Aquila and Foggia. Another distinctive feature is the marble’s two-tone white and pink colouring, from Genzano di Sassa. The Basilica di San Bernardino offers a different architectural point of interest: its interior is 100 metres long. After being damaged in the 2009 earthquake, it reopened to the public in 2015.

Routes, Gran Sasso and the Surrounding Area

As of 31 August 2026, Forte Spagnolo remains closed for reconstruction. From the outside, you can walk around the perimeter and admire the architecture. Check the latest information before visiting.

The Destinazione Gran Sasso route covers about 30 kilometres in total outside the city walls. It starts in L’Aquila’s city centre or at the exit of the A/24 motorway and can be travelled by car and partly on foot. Gran Sasso can be reached from L’Aquila by car or bus. The Riserva naturale del Vetoio is a nearby natural destination, where the Vetoio River forms a small lake. Alongside museums, religious buildings and archaeological sites, a route and a nearby nature reserve offer different themes to choose from for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Lecce Nei Marsi, Collarmele, Morino, Calascio, Castel Del Monte, Celano, Santi, Mascioni.

See the broader travel overview: L-Aquila.