It took six years of work to officially reopen the Fortezza di Civitella di Tronto. The Spanish-built fortress, one of the most imposing structures in Europe, is an Abruzzo treasure that finally becomes accessible again with a calendar rich in events, including nighttime openings on some summer dates. In short, the last bastion of the resistance of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and a symbol of the Italian Risorgimento opens its doors to visitors and does so with a calendar packed with happenings.
The Fortress of Civitella del Tronto Reopens
After nearly six years of work, the project that involved the Fortress of Civitella del Tronto has officially concluded, and the reopening has already borne fruit during the inauguration. The president of the Region, Marsilio, described the site as an identity heritage returned to the community and emphasized that Abruzzo is recording an increase of almost 25% in foreign visitors, placing it third nationwide.
What to See at the Fortress of Civitella del Tronto
With more than 25,000 square meters of area, the Fortress is regarded as among the most significant military engineering works on the continent. The bastions, the ronda walkways and several viewpoints from which one commands the valley become accessible again. The single ticket includes, besides the route inside the walls, the Weapons Museum and the Nina Museum. The structure with its military architecture captivates first of all with the Parade Squares used for the defense of the perimeter, but it is the ronda walkways and the monumental cisterns that leave a mark on visitors. The work desired by Bourbon rule is a jewel that today houses inside it various museums, including the weapons and maps museum.
Those who choose the guided visit, mandatory booking and a minimum of 15 participants, can also explore the village of Civitella: from the monument to Matteo Wade to the Church of the Scopa, up to the Ruetta, the narrowest street in Italy. An itinerary that overall takes about two hours and that links the fortress’s military history to the town’s urban fabric.
How to Visit It: Hours, Prices and Night Tours
Ticket prices are 10 euros for adults and include the Fortress, the Weapons Museum and the Nina Museum. Children aged 6 to 17 pay only €2. To visit the Fortress, one must first consider the opening hours:
- From January to February and from November to May entry is from 10:00 to 17:00;
- March and October open from 10:00 to 18:00;
- From April to May and in September from 10:00 to 19:00;
- During summer, in June and July, from 10:00 to 20:00;
- In August it opens from 9:00 to 20:00.
For the summer there is also planned night openings with visits from 21:30 to 23:30. The dates planned are August 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 and 25, and continue September 1, 4, 11, 18 and 25. The cost of this experience is €20 for adults, €10 for the teenage bracket up to 17 years, while children from 6 to 14 years pay €7.
For those organizing a trip to Abruzzo, the Fortress thus becomes a must-stop, both by day among bastions and museums, and by night, when the walls come alive with a different light.
