museo storico dello sbarco in sicilia 1943

While the technology used in this museum is a bit dated, it contains a lot of interesting information about the allies invasion and liberation of Sicily. The initial exhibit allows visitors to experience live as a resident of a Sicilian villiage before, during, and after a bombing attack. Next there is an illuminated map that shows how the allies invasion progressed. There are videos showing actual bombing runs and their aftermath - always chilling. For anyone interested in WWII military uniforms, this is a treasure mine, as it has uniforms for the various military services of the Brits, Americans, Germans, and Italians that fought in Sicily. As you move through the museum's second floor you can hear names being recited -- the last exhibit on the floor shows - one at a time - the names of all those military personnel that died during the invasion, with a native speaker (German, Italian, American, British) speaking the name and rank.

Great setting, great start, and then once inside it is so much more than I ever expected it to be. Very clean, nicely organized, plenty of English along the way (which is helpful but not a requirement... it is not an English speaking country after all). Great displays. Definitely worth the low price of admission!

What place could be better to present the hell of war than in an old sulphur plant? This has been highly successful in Catania. In the old industrial building on three floors they have accomplished – not just an informative knowledge base – but also an instructive and learning exhibit that affects most people.The subject is thus the Allied landings (Sbarco) in Sicily in 1943. Famous generals Montgomery and Patton participated and in just 38 days they had taken control of the whole of Sicily. The museums intention to provide an educational experience is reflected not least in the modest entrance fee; € 4 and half for retirees!After starting the tour in a typical 1940 village square you enter the exhibition which shows the whole operation in adequate detailed show windows. A certain number of signs in English makes it easier for those who do not speak only Italian. Pictures, movies and animated scenes raises the whole time interest for this successful venture, named Operation Husky which was the leap to the liberation of Italy from the fascist regime, which was something that Italians in general did not like.The museum demonstrates fascist propaganda suppression of communism and also has added a rhetorically skilled scene in the last room. On the one hand rolls the names of those who died here in 1943 supported by a narration. On the other side, the statement by Pope John XXIII is highlighted: La Pace è il bene supremo . Dimenticarlo è una vera Follia ." – "Peace is the highest good. Forgetfulness is the true madness."If we forget the dead and the sufferings from the war inferno it is a great risk that we are led to make the same mistake again.The museum has a web page at: http://www.provincia.ct.it/il_territorio/musei/museo_dello_sbarco_in_sicilia/indexEng.aspx

We went to visit this museum in Catania on the advice of a friend. The museum telling the story of the second world war, and the landing of the Americani forces, from a local perspective. Interesting and very moving, and my young boys were kept entertained by the bombing reenactment and the weapon and tank displays! Recommended.

Only found this place by chance. I bought a guide book in the railway station and it was mentioned in it. Not the easiest found but walk past the railway station towards the 3 chimneys and it is located there. It was a very revelant visit for us as we were in Cantania to see our grandfather's grave in the British War Cemetery. It was very good & we were able to see where he landed & was killed etc. The only big problem we had was there is very little of the information in english, we were able to piece it together with the little there was. The start of the tour with the bomb raid shelter is very well done. Worth a visit & give yourself at least 2 hours. At the end there is a picture of the war cemetery and the names of all the dead there are called out on a loop. Touching and lovely to see that they are being remembered.

Located in a very interesting building (a renovated sulfur refinery), this museum is a detailed look at the allied invasion of Sicily in1943. There is a pamphlet in English to help non-Italians understand the initial space...a Sicilian piazza in 1943, then an air raid shelter,and the destroyed square. All very realistic. I wished for a few less uniforms and weapons in the succeeding displays. I thought the last display particularly poignant, a memorial to all the soldiers (all sides) who died...names in alphabetical order as if to say now joined in death but had been divided in conflict.

We decided to stop in Catania to visit this museum. It turned out to be a very interesting museum with great displays and artifacts. We started out in a replica of a village then sat in a bomb shelter and experienced a virtual bombing. we were happy to have stopped here and spent more time in the museum than planned. Recommended!

Excellent museum explaining and showing Sicily involvement in the war from early war to 1943. I understand that in a few weeks the museum will provide English as well.

We came here as part of a group tour of Sicily, but, although I am an avid history buff, I was unfamiliar with this museum. Visiting it showed me how ignorant I was about the events here (ex. the Allies' Sicily landings were bigger than D-Day at Normandy!), but in a most positive way. Mixing a wide range of well-selected artifacts with considerable attention to the human impact of war, it is a fascinating, well-designed facility in an unexpected place. My wife is by no means into military history, but I had to pry her out of there. For anyone with family roots in Sicily, this is a must-see as you can trace the paths of US, British, and Canadian troops past your ancestral villages.

It's so important for us to never forget about the soldiers and the sacrifices they make. This museum is done very well, with a bunker that you sit in and listen to how frightening it must have been. Lots of video footage and photographs as well as uniforms worn by all sides. I learned a tremendous amount about the invasion, and was so glad we went.

I read the great reviews and thought it would be worth a visit. I checked the opening times before turning up but when I arrived there was not a single sign of life in the building, even though the opening times online and on the door meant it should have been open. In fact, the whole place looked pretty much closed down. What's the point of having winter season hours if in fact you're just closed?

Now knowing a lot about what ensured when Sicily was occupied in WWII, one got a real education at this museum. I rate it as high as seeing Churchill's War Museum in London! The assimilated bombing when you entered into a bomb shelter really gave you a true sense of what the landings of the Allies and the raids on the cities in Sicily were like.

We thoroughly enjoyed this museum, particularly the detailing of the countries, army divisions and Sicilian towns involved in the invasion. Well worth the 4 Euros apiece. There were only three of us in the museum during our tour. I would mention, for those that may be driving, there is a large parking lot running along the front of the Ciminiera complex. We parked here for 1 Euro.

As many of the other reviewers have mentioned, this museum can be difficult to find ... but well worth the effort. Looks small from the outside, but filled with many mementos from WW2. The entry film reviews the events up to the entry of Sicily into the war and then the invasion by the Allied Forces. If the museum isn't busy, the attendants will go ahead and play the film then introduce you to the a typical village square .... uh oh, enemy aircraft are coming.... hide in the bomb shelter. Lots of pictures and looping video clips to show you what Sicilians experienced. I was surprised to see King Victorio Emmanuel II's true height. The museum looks small from the outside .. but there is a lot to see and experience inside. Follow it up with a visit to the British Cemetery near the Catania Airport, the German Cemetery near Motta S' Anastasia or the Canadian Cemetery near Agria (all in the eastern part of Sicily and none terribly far away). Well worth the trip and only 4 euro a person (about $6 in 2014).

The museum is a little hard to find as it is set back from the road in the middle of a larger complex - which is not as vibrant as tour guides suggest. It would be worth calling first to get the tour times, since they group folk together and start you together with a film showing (available in English) and an experiential scenario. Overall, the museum is well considered and very informative, arranged chronologically. Some exhibits have English translations, most don't. More would improve things for the international visitor. I would have liked a little more on the reception of fascism, or anti-fascism and the role of the mafia before the invasion (there is a little on it in the US preparation for the invasion).