Museum of Norman culture, Norman history museum in Ariano Irpino Norman Castle, Italy

The Museum of Norman Culture is housed in Palazzo Bevere-Gambacorta in Ariano Irpino, sharing the building with the Mario Troso polearms study centre and museum. Its first room centres on a multimedia "quadrisphere", followed by an audiovisual projection room. Two halls cover Roger II and Frederick II, and a large model reconstructs the 1066 Battle of Hastings. The weapons room displays 250 authentic polearms, including halberds, pikes, lances and tridents, plus a 12th-century execution axe, a 16th-century armour and a life-size Norman infantryman.

Ariano Irpino was the seat of the first Norman county in Italy, documented from 1022, and in 1140 King Roger II held his famous assizes there. The museum was founded and is run by the European Centre for Norman Studies; it was first housed in a renovated wing of the Norman castle and moved to Palazzo Bevere-Gambacorta, where it was inaugurated in 2023.

The museum is run by the European Centre for Norman Studies, which also manages the Mario Troso polearms study centre and museum. The collection includes a 12th-century execution axe, a 16th-century armour and a life-size model of an armed Norman foot soldier. A silver evangelary dish and a coin collection of Norman-Swabian issues are also on display.

The museum is located at Via Castello in Ariano Irpino and opens on several days throughout the week. Visitors with large groups should arrange a visit in advance to ensure a smooth experience.

The museum's collection includes a rare Roman pilum and a 12th-century execution axe, displayed alongside 250 authentic polearms. A life-size mannequin of an armed Norman infantryman and a reproduction of Roger II's coronation mantle are also on show.