MAXXI L'Aquila Opens in Restored Palazzo Ardinghelli

On October 30, 2020, the MAXXI L'Aquila, an extension of Rome's National Museum of 21st Century Art, will officially open its doors following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum, located in the historically significant Baroque Palazzo Ardinghelli, has been a national monument since 1902 and was heavily impacted by the 2009 earthquake. A €7.2 million contribution from the Russian Federation financed its restoration. The inauguration will be attended by Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and Russian Ambassador Sergey Razov. Featured artists include Elisabetta Benassi, Daniela De Lorenzo, and others, alongside selections from the MAXXI Collection. Restoration commenced in 2014, and the site was designated as a contemporary art museum in 2015. Public previews are set for September 5 and 6, 2020, led by students from the Accademia delle Belle Arti dell'Aquila.