G. Mazzarino House Museum, Pescina

Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino was born in Pescina (AQ) on July 14, 1602. A Cardinal and Prime Minister in France, he died in France on March 9, 1661. Today, Pescina hosts in his name a house celebrating Italian-French friendship and a museum with truly remarkable documentation. The Mazzarino House Museum is located in a small building constructed in 1971-72 thanks to the distinguished “”Milanese patron”” Engineer Gervaso Rancilio, situated in the upper part of Pescina, just a few meters from the tomb of Ignazio Silone. A ground floor hall serves as a library and reading room (there are also some large photos of Pescina before the earthquake). A large upper hall houses the actual museum, where many documents related to the life and works of Cardinal Mazzarino are exhibited. Illustrative brochures containing bibliographic material, books, and “”Mazzarinian”” pamphlets (works of the Cardinal, biographies, historical essays) are available. The Mazzarino House Museum is also becoming a specialized library for publications about Abruzzo. This important cultural center of Pescina, managed by the Municipality, also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and shows.