The house at Pescasseroli, in the Abruzzo National Park, where Benedetto Croce was born on 25 February 1866 — built by Pietrantonio Sipari and finished in 1839, lived in by the family until 2006 and now a house museum.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic house and house museum
- Where
- Pescasseroli, Province of L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy
- Coordinates
- 41.8105079° N, 13.7908190° E
- Built
- Completed 1839, for Pietrantonio Sipari
- Benedetto Croce
- Born here on the second floor, 25 February 1866
- Lived in until
- 2006
- Run by
- Fondazione Erminio e Zel Sipari Onlus
Overview
Palazzo Sipari is a historic town house at Pescasseroli, in the Province of L’Aquila, in Abruzzo, tied to the Sipari family and to the philosopher Benedetto Croce. It now houses the museum that carries its name.
History
The palace stands on the site of a small baronial house owned until 1838 by the Massa family of Sorrento, feudal lords of Pescasseroli. Pietrantonio Sipari, of the new sheep-farming middle class of the town, bought from them what was left of the old structure; having declined to complete the purchase of the ducal palace of Alvito at auction, he decided to build the present house in its place, and the work was finished in 1839.
From then the palace was lived in by the Sipari family until 2006, when the last owner died: the marchesa Maria Cristina Sipari, second daughter of the deputy Erminio Sipari and great-niece of Pietrantonio.
On 25 February 1866 the philosopher Benedetto Croce was born here, on the second floor.
What you see
The house is now a house museum run by the Fondazione Erminio e Zel Sipari Onlus, in Piazza Benedetto Croce at the centre of Pescasseroli.
Practical information
- Address: Piazza Benedetto Croce 5, 67032 Pescasseroli (AQ), Abruzzo.
- Opening times are those of the foundation; it is advisable to check before travelling.
Sources
- Cultural Heritage Online historical archive — original Italian entry (beniculturalionline.it), transposed and corrected 2026.
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