Belli Instrumentum War Museum in Barrafranca 

The history of the Belli Instrumentum war museum in Barrafranca

In Barrafranca, in Piazza Messina Fratelli in the Batia district, stands the Belli Instrumentum War Museum, military museum that houses a large repertoire of war material, opened to the public in 2004.
The idea of ​​founding a museum in Sicily that would exhibit to visitors the uniforms, equipment and weapons of soldiers during the war, arose from Marshal Giuseppe D'Auria and Carabiniere Giovanni Collura, who have personally contributed to the creation of the museum space and are part of theNational Carabinieri Association.
The museum in Barrafranca holds war material, documents and photographs related to the history of our country over the last two centuries, as well as a lot of material related to the Carabinieri, which visitors can observe on display.
In the halls of the museum, a special space is dedicated to Second World War and above all contains material relating to the summer of 1943. Much of the material found in the other exhibition halls comes from strongholds and military districts throughout Italy: the museum constitutes a cultural center of great interest for the history of our whole country.

The architecture of the Belli Instrumentum War Museum in Barrafranca and the works it contains.

The War Museum in Barrafranca is located in the ancient Batia district and the museum headquarters is located in the Putieddi Palace, building built in the eighteenth century. The various rooms that make up the museum occupy a total area of ​​about 268 square meters.
The museum itinerary is divided into 5 large sections, which group together material of different types, all relating to war, weapons, the soldiers who fought the most recent wars in our country.
A first part of the museum houses the equipment, and then continues with the display of military uniforms and honors won by soldiers on the battlefield; then, the weapons room is open to the public, to then move on to the exhibition of headgear and field accessories that were used in battle; the permanent exhibition closes with a collection of historical documents, very useful for remembering war events, which the visitor was able to almost touch during the journey.
The Museum also organizes traveling exhibitions, thanks to which it brings practical knowledge to schools, capable of showing children what is studied every day in books.
War enthusiasts of all ages can visit the museum and also take advantage of the tourist packages offered by this cultural institution.

What you can do at the Belli Instrumentum War Museum in Barrafranca and its surroundings.

Visiting the Belli Instrumentum War Museum in Barrafranca can be a precious opportunity to deepen the historical knowledge of the most recent war events in our country, looking closely at military life.
From room to room, you can discover the evolution ofmilitary arsenal of our country, but also to discover something more about the living conditions of soldiers in battle: a visit to the Barrafranca museum is certainly an experience that will not leave you indifferent.
History buffs, students and the curious: everyone can visit the Museum and discover unique details of our history.
A stay in Barrafranca can be the right occasion to visit the Museum, but also to discover the other beauties of the town and its surroundings: in Piazza Ligotti Lieutenant, who wants to gather in prayer and admire the beauty of a large religious building, will find the Church of Maria Santissima della Purificazione; in the surroundings of Barrafranca, on the other hand, it is found Mazzarino, with his Castle called U Cannuni. The fortified building, dating back to the 500th century, can also be a perfect destination for history-loving museum visitors: here, on a hill that rises over XNUMX meters above sea level, the fortress played an important role in the Middle Ages strategic role for the control of the underlying valley.
Other interesting buildings, such as the Church of Maria Santissima della Divina Grazia , Church of San Francesco, can be reached by visiting Barrafranca.
In a cultural holiday, however, time dedicated to relaxation, taste and nature must not be missing: visit the farm of the Collotta estate it can be the best way to discover the products of the Sicilian land, to be tasted on the spot or to take back home.

How to get to the Belli Instrumentum War Museum in Barrafranca

Barrafranca is a municipality inhabited by about 11.000 people and is located in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, in Sicily.
The town hosts in one of its oldest districts, Batia, the Belli Instrumentum Museum, in Pizza Messina Fratelli.
The Museum in Barrafranca can be easily reached from all the main cities of Sicily, both by car and by train.
Those traveling by car can take the A19 Palermo-Catania, choosing one of the two exits for Caltanissetta (19 km) or Enna (24 km).
Travelers who prefer the train can book the route to Caltanissetta Central Station (17 km) or Agrigento Central Station (54 km). From both stations, public buses and private shuttles leave to take tourists to their destination.

The museum opens only under reservation. Reservations can be made by phone or email.