Discover Chieti: Antiquity, Museums and Historic City Routes

Chieti lies on a hill 330 metres high and offers views of the sea and the surrounding mountains. In the compact historic centre, old streets pass monuments, churches, squares and historic shops.

Ancient traces on the Acropolis

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale La Civitella is located at the summit of the Acropolis of ancient Chieti. Its finds illustrate the city’s origins and development through artefacts from the area once inhabited by the Marrucini. Three museum tours are entitled "L’inizio della storia urbana", "Da Roma a ieri" and "La terra dei Marrucini", presenting the city’s history from different perspectives.

The Roman Amphitheatre della Civitella is part of the ancient cityscape. It dates from the 1st century AD and was used for gladiatorial contests. The structure is elliptical; parts of the arena wall and the honorary tribune have been preserved. Another historic site is the Tempietti Romani, considered Chieti’s oldest place of worship and consisting of three adjacent temples. They were probably built in an area that had already been used to worship deities from the 5th to the 4th century BC.

At the Sito archeologico di Teate Marrucinorum, Chieti preserves a mosaic depicting Neptune’s trident, a dolphin and two hippocampi. The Terme Romane date from the 2nd century AD and are located in the eastern part of the city.

Museums spanning archaeology, art and science

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale d’Abruzzo documents the culture of ancient Abruzzo from prehistory to the Late Imperial period. It also includes a numismatic collection with coins from the 4th to the 19th century. A specialised library with around 13,000 volumes complements this focus.

Near Chieti, the Museo d’Arte C. Barbella is housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Martinetti. It comprises five sections featuring paintings, sculptures by Barbella, works on paper, paintings from the Premio Michetti and ceramics from Castelli. The collections also include 15th-century panels, Neapolitan paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and works by the Abruzzese artists Cascella and Michetti. The Palazzo de Mayo, Trifoglio Arte and Palazzo De Pasquale are also located nearby.

The Museo Universitario d’Annunzio is a scientific museum focusing on natural sciences and the history of science. Biological, medical, archaeological, anthropological and palaeontological subjects are also represented. The museum covers more than 1,500 m² across three floors and is divided into twelve sections. The Museo Diocesano Teatino preserves historical and artistic material from the Palazzo Comunale, the Cattedrale di San Giustino and other churches in the diocesan area. It displays works of art and liturgical furnishings from the 13th to the 16th century.

Churches, theatres and underground spaces

The Cattedrale di San Giustino has three aisles separated by columns, ending in three apses. The central nave is covered by a lunette-vaulted barrel vault. The saint’s relics are kept in the crypt, whose design is simple and medieval. The Teatro Marrucino was built from 1813 to December 1817 on the perimeter walls of the former deconsecrated church of S. Stefano e S. Ignazio.

Beneath the present-day historic centre lies Chieti Sotterranea, an underground city. A partially preserved system of cisterns and tunnels remains there. Some underground spaces were used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War. Above ground, the Villa Comunale complements the cityscape with several terraced levels, Italian gardens, a small wood, illuminated ponds, paths and stone bridges. It includes a small peninsula surrounded by water for small performances. Access to the Giardino dei Semplici is free and without charge during university opening hours.

City breaks and destinations in the surrounding area

Chieti’s historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. The museums and archaeological sites cover different areas of focus. The area around Chieti also includes Spiaggia Pescara, Spiaggia Postilli, Spiaggia del Foro di Ortona and Spiaggia di Foro.

Getting to Chieti

Travellers arriving from the north can take the A14 Bologna–Bari motorway to the Pescara Ovest–Chieti exit and then continue on the SS 656 towards Chieti Centro. Chieti can be reached by train via the Pescara–Rome route. Several regional railway lines also connect the city with, among other places, Teramo and Sulmona.

More places for planning your trip

Vacri, Vasto, Roccascalegna, Taranta Peligna, Tollo, Roccamontepiano, Scerni, San Vito Chietino, Francavilla Al Mare, Carunchio, Borrello, Atessa, Rocca San Giovanni, Gamberale, Pretoro, Orsogna, Pennapiedimonte, Perano, Pizzoferrato, Brecciarola, Lido Di Casalbordino, Arielli, Archi, San Martino Sulla Marrucina, Chieti, Casoli, Villamagna, Ortona, Casalbordino, Olmi, Crecchio, Gessopalena, Fossacesia, San Giovanni Teatino, Bomba, Lanciano, Casacanditella, Paglieta, Fallo, Lama Dei Peligni, Ripa Teatina, Cupello, San Lorenzo, Torrevecchia Teatina, Casalincontrada, Mozzagrogna, Guardiagrele, Mezzano, Miglianico, Fara San Martino, Canosa Sannita, Marina di San Vito, Torricella Peligna, Fresagrandinaria, Treglio, Schiavi di Abruzzo, Pollutri, Piane d'Archi-Quadroni, Tornareccio, Dogliola, Villalfonsina, Castiglione Messer Marino, Montazzoli, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro, Sambuceto, Guilmi, Palombaro, Lentella, Rosello, Torino Di Sangro, Cerreto, Villa Caldari, Colledimezzo, Castel Frentano, Bucchianico, Altino, Filetto, Marina Di Vasto, San Salvo, Monteodorisio, Villa Santa Maria.

For the main travel overview: Abruzzo.