L'Aquila opens palaces and museums for the national festival "è cultura!"

The national festival “è cultura!” brings free guided tours, exhibitions and special openings of historic palaces and museums to L’Aquila until 25 October. The initiative is part of the L’Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026 programme and, for two weeks, broadens access to spaces usually closed to the public or open only at limited times.

The festival is promoted by Abi and Acri together with the Banca d’Italia, and includes, among other things, the opening of the L’Aquila branch of the Banca d’Italia and of Palazzo Farinosi Branconi: two venues that are not normally part of the city’s museum circuits and that, for the duration of the initiative, become additional stops in the city’s cultural offering.

Rounding out the programme, the Museo nazionale d’Abruzzo will offer guided tours dedicated to the city’s Gonfalone from 20 to 24 October: a specific focus on one of L’Aquila’s historic symbols, included in the wider calendar of special openings.

The decision to pair banking venues and historic palaces with a national museum reflects the approach of the “è cultura!” festival, which aims to network public and private heritage in the cities involved in the national programme promoted by the banking and foundation system. For L’Aquila, engaged in its year as Italian Capital of Culture, the initiative offers an opportunity to temporarily broaden access to spaces that usually remain outside the ordinary visitor routes.

The calendar remains open until 25 October, with guided tours of the city’s Gonfalone concentrated in the festival’s final five days, from 20 to 24.

The news currently comes from a single source (ANSA); no independent confirmation is available.

Sources: ANSA