From October 7th to November 5th, every weekend and on November 1st, the National Museum of Abruzzo offers the opportunity to visit the Castello dell’Aquila from a very special perspective: the system of countermine tunnels.
This system, located within the castle’s foundations and extending along the entire perimeter of the curtain walls and bastions, made it possible to intercept underground mine tunnels dug by the enemy.
The visitor, accompanied by the support of the museum’s staff and with the aid of an audio guide, will find themselves immersed in the evocative itinerary of small rooms and tunnels just under 1 m wide and just over 2 m high, which winds along the perimeter of the eastern bastion.
Passing by the numerous slits that allowed visual and acoustic control of the tunnels, you’ll relive the experience of the soldiers patrolling the mines by torchlight, silently listening to the walls, waiting for an underground attack.
Opening Hours
- October: 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
- November: 1, 4, 5
Hours
9:00 am to 7:00 pm (entrance every hour, last entry at 6:00 pm)
Online reservation required
Reservations for time slots are limited to a maximum of 13 people.
Book your ticket online. You will receive a booking confirmation email. Go to the ticket office in front of the entrance to the Castello Cinquecentesco 20 minutes before your booked time slot. Bring your confirmation email, printed or on your smartphone or tablet, to purchase your admission tickets.
The available places for the visit to the countermine trail are currently sold out, unless cancelled.
Visitor Regulations
The tour of the countermine galleries takes place inside the sixteenth-century Castle, currently an active construction site for restoration and repair work on the damage the fortress suffered following the 2009 earthquake.
The countermines galleries are located about 3 metres below the basement level.
The tour is approximately 150 metres long, lasts about 45 minutes, and is guided by authorised personnel.
The visit route does not have a lighting system: it is recommended to equip oneself with torches, in addition to those with which accompanying guides are equipped.
Entrance is not allowed for children under the age of 6; children over the age of 6 may only enter if accompanied by an adult.
It is not permitted to leave one’s own group along the route, nor to go beyond the barriers that mark the route open to the public.
Each group is composed of a maximum of 13 visitors.
It is not possible to visit the countermine in wheelchairs and with pushchairs, due to the disconnections intrinsic to the nature of the site.
Visiting the countermine is not recommended for those with walking difficulties and those suffering from claustrophobia.
The temperature in the countermines is a constant 10°C. Appropriate clothing to cope with the temperature and humidity is recommended, as well as the use of suitable footwear.
It is mandatory to wear a safety helmet during the visit, which will be provided by the Museum staff to each visitor, together with a disposable hygienic cap.
Access is not permitted to any kind of animal, even small ones.
