Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943

Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943

Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The "Allied Landings in Sicily Museum" (Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943) is housed in one of the buildings forming the "Ciminiere" cultural centre. The museum narrates the events that took place in Sicily from 10 July to 8 September 1943. This period is still recent history, only seventy years have passed and many senior citizens can still recount the experience. Everything that we have forgotten is now conserved in this museum which aims to protect our most precious asset: peace. The museum is arranged on three floors covering an area of 3,000 square metres, including a temporary exhibition area. By means of reconstructed settings the museum has tried to recreate the conditions of life before, during and after the war, using simulations, projections and original exhibits.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • robert a
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So glad we visited this museum!
    I am so happy that I learned of this museum! Excellent layout and lots of detail. The videos and photographs were amazing, including for people that don’t know too much about WWII, as the introductory video was a very helpful orientation. The staff were also friendly and helpful! There is a LOT to see, so my advice would be to move fairly quickly through parts of less interest to you, because there is another exhibit around every corner. A history buff could easily spend three or more hours. Save time for the Phil Stern photographs exhibit at the end!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 September 2023
  • robinn669
    Farnham, United Kingdom427 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    stupendo
    An extraordinary place and largely unknown to the great Sicilian public apart from the disinterested and distracted Italian school children forced to walk around but more engaged with their phones This is an in-depth examination of Operation Husky when the Americans and British raced around the island to see who could secure Messina first. The equipment, the visuals, the reenactments are first class- presentation is usually an Italian thing but this time they've combined it with substance. It's a beautiful space tucked away near the railway station- and takes a bit of finding but completely worth it. I hope there is money to maintain this excellent museum
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 January 2024
  • genibre69
    London, United Kingdom5,264 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating photos, videos and artifacts, English is touch and go
    For only a measly €4 entry fee, this place is well worth it. I would advise though you get a brief intro from the reception on the history and layout as there are some English placards inside, but it comes across as haphazard, so she sets the stage for what you will see. The history is quite comprehensive and there are tons of artifacts, including uniforms from each country involved in the war, as well as weapons, etc. The machine gunner in the “bunker” made me jump at first. Incredibly vivid videos and photos of the impact of the war on Sicily, and absolutely wonderful photo exhibition at the end by an American photographer who fought and was injured. One minor point: some random employee told me to stop taking photos at one point: of a English translation PLACARD. There are no signs indicating no photos from what I recall so I ignored her. How silly!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 26 March 2024
  • Alida T
    Bayport, New York104 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent exhibits and information!
    Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Catania area. The exhibits are excellent and very informative. We were discouraged from taking pictures inside, so I did not take any. A "must see" if you have an interest in WWII. One area has the military uniforms with accessories for each country involved in the invasion. Only 2 euro for seniors, I highly recommend this museum.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 April 2024
  • Mark V
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A hidden gem--absolutely superb museum, well worth a visit.
    Absolutely outstanding museum. As a retired U.S. Army officer I am very interested in military history and make it a point to visit military museums wherever I go. Amazingly, in Catania, Sicily I found one of the best I've ever seen. It was focused primarily on the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 with sufficient pre-invasion information to put it in context along with a good presentation of the aftermath. It was well organized, clearly marked and logically laid out. The exhibits were excellent covering the sea, ground and air aspects of the campaign from the respective sides of all belligerents as well as the impact on the Sicilian population. Everything was understandable even for my elementary school age grandchildren who also enjoyed it. There was plenty of detail for the military aficionado but also sufficient context and scope to make it interesting for the those with only the most casual understanding of World War II. I greatly enjoyed the visit and give this museum my highest recommendation.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 June 2024
  • Sally62
    Northampton, United Kingdom5,910 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you love history then don't miss this museum
    A must if you are interested in WWII history and the invasion of Sicily - my grandfather was involved so it was somewhere that I wanted to visit. A little way out of the centre so worth taking a taxi to get there so you can find it but an easy walk back. Lots to see - photographs, uniforms and equipment, maps and displays so give yourself plenty of time. No photographs as they are not allowed for some reason.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 August 2024
  • fssutton1
    Charleston, South Carolina885 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great
    What a first class museum. It goes on and on and explains allied operation which most Americans,at least,know very little about. Lots of displays in Italian only but adequate English. Cheap admission. The actual entrance is a little tough to find and you exit direction onto the walkway from the last weapons display. Must see for wR history buffs.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 August 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles890 reviews
Excellent
690
Very good
150
Average
22
Poor
11
Terrible
17

SteveK
Los Angeles, CA168 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
Well-intentioned museum, but if the objective is to reach an international audience, not just Italians, there needs to be a language option. English tends to be the international common denominator at minimum. But there is almost no English except for a few itemizations of poorly-labeled, numbered exhibits. Sad that they have some cool artifacts and a story to tell, but only Italians can partake, and only the strong-willed can follow exhibit itemizations. That said, there is an adjunct exhibition on wartime photographer Phil Stern thoughtfully curated by Ezio Costanzo that is fully translated to English. This was the highlight for me, but whilst included in the museum admission, I am unclear aside from sharing space whether it is affiliated with the museum itself. I assume not because it is presented at a professional international standard.
Written 11 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matty
4 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
A fantastic museum that is sadly let down by the attitude of the staff. We visited around 12pm and the adveritised opening hours were until 3pm. Upon arrival we were informed by rather rude staff that the museum would be closing at 1:30pm. An American couple who arrived one minute after us were denied entry completely. Parking out front must be paid for, so use the machine near the roadside and the signposting for the museum entry is a little hard to find. There is a huge amount to see and we particular liked the photographic exhibition featuring the work of Phil Stern.
Written 18 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lyle W
Miami, FL5,569 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2022 • Solo
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, despite TA indicating it is closed, the museum is currently open. Upon entry there is a short movie that you can watch, the movie is in Italian but has English subtitles, unfortunately the remainder of the museum is almost entirely in Italian. After the movie you enter a reproduction of a typical village with decorated business and homes. The next stop is a reproduction of a bomb shelter, approaching triggers an air raid siren and if you sit in shelter you can experience a simulated bombing, complete with shaking room. When you exit the shelter you are now in a village destroyed by bombs. The remainder of the museum is artifacts, pictures, maps and other information, well worth the 4.00 Euros currently charged for admission, I spent a good 90 minutes exploring and would have rated it a 5 if there was more English information.
Written 1 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

robinn669
Farnham, UK427 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
An extraordinary place and largely unknown to the great Sicilian public apart from the disinterested and distracted Italian school children forced to walk around but more engaged with their phones This is an in-depth examination of Operation Husky when the Americans and British raced around the island to see who could secure Messina first. The equipment, the visuals, the reenactments are first class- presentation is usually an Italian thing but this time they've combined it with substance. It's a beautiful space tucked away near the railway station- and takes a bit of finding but completely worth it. I hope there is money to maintain this excellent museum
Written 3 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave C
Alexandria, VA1,596 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
This place is open, open, open. I almost did not go due to Trip Advisor saying it was closed. Please go, it's great! Many local small artifacts relating to the invasion and liberation, with good photos, documents, and relics. Some artillery but no vehicles yet. Staff is helpful, and they did allow me to take photos after I asked (I was discreet, no flash). It's a bit of a walk from mid-downtown but we did it in 30 minutes. Some of the museum seems to have been added on a bit disjointed, but it works, and I highly advise going. Yes, it has a few fluffs, such as patches shown sideways, but it's fine.
Written 27 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Franco F
St. Albans, UK166 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
This is one of the best WW2 museums I have ever visited. It is on different levels and on the first level you start in a street scene of a town on Sicily in 1943. Then you go inside a bomb shelter and experience an air raid with sound and movement effect’s. The rest of the museum is packed with genuine artifacts, wax models of Churchill, Hitler and Mussolini and a breathtaking exhibition of photographs taken during the Sicily invasion.

The entrance fee is just 4 euros !
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark V
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • Family
Absolutely outstanding museum. As a retired U.S. Army officer I am very interested in military history and make it a point to visit military museums wherever I go. Amazingly, in Catania, Sicily I found one of the best I've ever seen. It was focused primarily on the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 with sufficient pre-invasion information to put it in context along with a good presentation of the aftermath. It was well organized, clearly marked and logically laid out. The exhibits were excellent covering the sea, ground and air aspects of the campaign from the respective sides of all belligerents as well as the impact on the Sicilian population. Everything was understandable even for my elementary school age grandchildren who also enjoyed it. There was plenty of detail for the military aficionado but also sufficient context and scope to make it interesting for the those with only the most casual understanding of World War II. I greatly enjoyed the visit and give this museum my highest recommendation.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

genibre69
London, UK5,264 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
For only a measly €4 entry fee, this place is well worth it. I would advise though you get a brief intro from the reception on the history and layout as there are some English placards inside, but it comes across as haphazard, so she sets the stage for what you will see. The history is quite comprehensive and there are tons of artifacts, including uniforms from each country involved in the war, as well as weapons, etc. The machine gunner in the “bunker” made me jump at first. Incredibly vivid videos and photos of the impact of the war on Sicily, and absolutely wonderful photo exhibition at the end by an American photographer who fought and was injured. One minor point: some random employee told me to stop taking photos at one point: of a English translation PLACARD. There are no signs indicating no photos from what I recall so I ignored her. How silly!
Written 26 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeff M
Portland, OR6 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Solo
Very disappointing. I read in an earlier review that they had English translations of the exhibits’ Italian text at the entrance but ticket person said those guides were no longer available, adding that some exhibits now had Italian and English text. I would guess about half the exhibits were bilingual.

Sounds promising right? But the florid writing added nothing to the experience. Here for example is the text from a room that had models of a few of the battleground areas.

“Now the visitor stands on the privileged position of the gods that from above may see the earthly facts remaining extraneous to them. It is sufficient, instead, to look away from the octagon to the walls in order to come back on the earth and see, on four different monitor screens, the same events filmed by the camera-men that every moment shot the war.”

I don’t recall seeing any monitors or displays.

Another disappointing omission was the film that you would watch when you first enter. Not available said the ticket person.

I found the exhibits disjointed and rarely providing much insight. I had recently read “Sicily ‘43” by James Holland, a London Times notable book of 2020 which spurred my interest in seeing this museum. Small arms exhibits were plentiful but for the bigger equipment (tanks et al) all they had were a bunch of models, which would have been fine had they been labeled. But most weren’t. There were a number of collections of things and models of famous people but cabinets with stuff could benefit from a bit of context.

There was a very good exhibition of invasion photography by Phil Stern who went on to fame as a Hollywood photographer.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Douglas L
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Th Canadian flag on display only came into existence in 1965. The flag that Canadians fought under in 1943 was the Red Ensign. I will try to have the museum put the Canadian 1943 flag on display. Great museum and worth the time to go through it.
Written 16 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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