Chieti’s old town is small and easy to explore on foot. Its old streets pass monuments, grand buildings, churches, squares and historic shops. There are also archaeological collections, art museums and ecclesiastical heritage. For planning your visit, it is helpful to distinguish the main themes: from finds spanning different periods to individual works of art and liturgical objects.

Ancient Sites and Archaeology

The Anfiteatro romano della Civitella dates from the 1st century AD and was used for gladiatorial contests. When it was discovered, architectural terracottas, fragments of statues and bronze ornaments, as well as mosaics, were found. The mosaics belonged to temples dating from the 2nd century BC. Different periods are therefore represented here: the amphitheatre dates from Roman times, while the temple mosaics associated with it are older.

The collections of the Museo archeologico “La Civitella” span from the Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages. They illustrate the origins and development of ancient Teate and its territory. The complex also includes gardens, pedestrian areas, an auditorium, an archaeological laboratory, spaces for recreational and educational activities, and an area for temporary exhibitions. Alongside its collections, the complex therefore offers a range of spaces for work, learning and exhibitions.

Architecture, Sculpture and Painting

The Teatro Marrucino was built from 1813 to December 1817 to a design by Eugenio Michitelli, who came from Teramo. Its construction period and architect give the theatre a different historical context from the archaeological collections: here, the focus is on a building from the early 19th century.

The Museo archeologico nazionale d’Abruzzo – Villa Frigerj displays the Guerriero di Capestrano, a masterpiece from the 6th century BC, in its own hall. This focus on a single work distinguishes it from the wide-ranging collection of the Museo archeologico “La Civitella”. Visitors interested in the context of a specific work of art will find a clear focus here.

The collection of the Museo D’Arte Costantino Barbella is divided into five sections: paintings from the 15th to the 19th century, sculptures by Barbella, drawings on paper, paintings from the Premio Michetti, and majolica from Castelli. The sections bring together different media and periods rather than focusing on a single genre. The collection’s scope can therefore be understood in terms of both its materials and its chronological range.

Ecclesiastical Heritage and Science

The Museo Diocesano Teatino preserves historical and artistic heritage from the Palazzo Comunale, the Cattedrale di San Giustino and other churches in the diocese. Its museum route presents artworks and liturgical furnishings dating from the 13th to the 16th century. The relics of the saint are kept in the crypt of the Cattedrale di San Giustino; precious frescoes and paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries define the artistic focus there. The period covered by the museum route is therefore broader than the dates of the works mentioned in the crypt.

As a science museum, the Museo Universitario di Chieti complements the art and history collections with natural history, palaeontological and anthropological collections, as well as scientific instruments. This offers a distinct perspective on Chieti’s museum landscape: alongside art and archaeology, the museum features collections related to nature and science.

Getting to Chieti

By car, take the A14 Bologna–Bari and exit at Pescara Ovest–Chieti. Then continue via the SS5 Tiburtina Valeria or the expressway to Chieti Centro. These two onward routes offer practical guidance for your journey.

Discover more destinations: Villamagna, Crecchio, Miglianico, Guilmi, Marina di San Vito, Palombaro, Roccascalegna, Rocca San Giovanni.

For the general travel overview: Chieti.