A permanent installation by Christian Boltanski commemorates the 81 victims of the DC9 shot down on June 27, 1980, through light, mirrors, whispered voices, and recovered personal objects.
At a glance
This museum preserves the wreckage of Itavia Flight 870 and surrounds it with a solemn artistic intervention. Boltanski’s installation uses light bulbs, black mirrors, audio elements, and nine large chests containing victims’ belongings to create a space for reflection on memory and loss.
History
On June 27, 1980, Itavia Airlines Flight 870, a DC9 bound for Palermo, was shot down over the Tyrrhenian Sea. All 81 passengers and crew died. The aircraft wreckage was recovered and eventually housed in this museum, one year after Boltanski’s involvement. The circumstances of the disaster remain partly unresolved, with ongoing judicial investigations shaped by Cold War tensions and complex international politics.
What you see
Eighty-one suspended light bulbs descend from the ceiling, their glow intensifying and fading in rhythm to evoke breath and heartbeat. Black mirrors line the walls—one for each victim—reflecting visitors’ images superimposed over the aircraft remains. Behind every mirror, a speaker whispers simple daily thoughts in overlapping voices. Nine black chests, arranged as relics, contain carefully photographed personal objects: clothing, books, goggles, fins, and snorkels. A connecting room displays documents, videos, testimonies, and articles tracing the investigations and historical context of the tragedy.
Cultural significance
The installation exemplifies art’s role as civil witness. Boltanski transforms a tragedy into meditation, using mirrors to position visitors within the installation and voices to humanize the victims. The work refuses to let the disaster fade, insisting that collective memory demands acknowledgment even—and especially—when truth remains obscured by politics and time.
Key facts
- Address: Via di Saliceto, 3/22, 40128 Bologna
- Coordinates: 44.513, 11.350
- Phone: 051 377680
- Website: https://www.museomemoriaustica.it/
- Artist: Christian Boltanski (1944–2021)
Practical information
Open Thursday and Friday 9:00–13:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00–18:30. Closed Monday–Wednesday. Groups over 10 people must book in advance. School groups: call 051 6496628 (Monday, Friday 9:00–13:00; Wednesday 13:00–17:00) or email mamboscuole@comune.bologna.it. Family and adult groups: call 051 6496627 (Wednesday 10:00–17:00, Thursday 13:00–17:00). Bus drop-off on Via Ferrarese only; stopping on Via di Saliceto is not permitted.
Getting there
The museum is located in Bologna’s Bolognina district. Public transport and taxi access are recommended due to bus restrictions on Via di Saliceto.
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