MAXXI L'Aquila, Contemporary art museum in L'Aquila, Italy
MAXXI L'Aquila is a contemporary art museum housed in the restored Palazzo Ardinghelli, displaying rotating exhibitions focused on art, architecture, and photography. The galleries occupy multiple floors of the historic building and feature works that change throughout the year.
The idea of a MAXXI branch in Abruzzo arose after minister Dario Franceschini visited Palazzo Ardinghelli in 2014; the palace, a national monument badly damaged in the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, was being restored with a contribution from the Russian government. The project was confirmed in 2015 and formalised in 2017, with adaptation works running to 2019. Inauguration came on 28 May 2021, and the public entered from 3 June.
The museum has no permanent collection apart from Ettore Spalletti's Colonna nel vuoto, so the displays change regularly. Its opening exhibition, Punto di equilibrio, ran until 20 February 2022 and mixed MAXXI collection pieces with new commissions from Elisabetta Benassi, Stefano Cerio, Alberto Garutti, Paolo Pellegrin and others. Later shows, such as In Itinere, took L'Aquila's own territory as their subject.
The museum occupies Palazzo Ardinghelli in the historic centre of L'Aquila, and the galleries are spread over several floors of the restored palace, so allow time to move between levels. There is no permanent collection beyond Ettore Spalletti's Colonna nel vuoto, and the programme consists of temporary exhibitions that are dismantled and replaced, so check which shows are on before travelling.
The museum operates as part of a broader network that includes a sister location in Rome, allowing artworks and exhibitions to circulate between the two cities. This connection enables visitors to experience contemporary art in different regional contexts and strengthens the art scene across central Italy.
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