BPER Banca Opens New Museum Pole in L'Aquila's Historic Palazzo Farinosi Branconi

After the 2009 earthquake, Palazzo Farinosi Branconi in L'Aquila has been restored and repurposed as a new cultural hub for BPER Banca. The 16th-century building, located near Piazza San Silvestro, now houses the bank's corporate collection in two exhibition routes: a permanent display titled 'Scrigno di Memorie' and a temporary exhibition on the palace's recent history. The permanent show, curated by Michele Maccarini and Luca Pizzuto, features five centuries of local and southern Italian art, from the 15th to the 20th century, arranged by protagonists and thematic nuclei rather than chronologically. Notable artists include Saturnino Gatti, Cola della Matrice, Luca Giordano, Mattia Preti, Salvator Rosa, Francesco De Mura, Francesco Solimena, Teofilo Patini, Francesco Paolo Michetti, and Giuseppe Casciaro. The palace's Sala di San Clemente, with its early 17th-century frescoes commissioned by Girolamo Bianconi, is being restored using innovative techniques after the 2009 quake necessitated their detachment. BPER's decision to convert the building into a museum was influenced by archival documents from the 1980s that highlighted the cultural significance of the property. The project aims to integrate with L'Aquila's cultural circuits and strengthen community connections, as stated by Greta Rossi and Vera Donatelli. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, with tickets priced at €8 full, €6 reduced, and €4 special reduced.