1. Atrium - The Studio of Antonio De Nino

Audioguide by eArs 1. Atrium - The Studio of Antonio De Nino We are delighted to guide you on an archaeological journey to uncover a remarkable story, still largely unknown to the general public. Through the artifacts on display in the Museum, you will delve into the heart of the ancient metropolis of Corfinium, a city that hosted the valiant Italic warriors. These warriors, after founding a new nation named ITALY, fought against Rome to secure social, political, and economic rights—what we today call “Human Rights.”Our visit begins not with display cases brimming with archaeological artifacts but in a room: a reconstruction of the 19th-century studiolo of Antonio De Nino, to whom the museum is dedicated. A self-taught scholar and schoolteacher, De Nino was born in Pratola Peligna in 1833. He devoted his life to archaeological research and the documentation of Abruzzo's folk customs and traditions.Between 1877 and 1907, De Nino concentrated on the Corfinio area and its surroundings, where he identified and studied several pre-Roman and Roman necropolises, conducted surveys and excavations, and uncovered both sacred and civil buildings. His systematic and passionate work is extensively documented in the prestigious journal Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità of the Accademia dei Lincei, where he published the findings of his research.De Nino’s contributions, however, extended beyond excavations. He personally sought out and purchased ancient objects unearthed by farmers during agricultural work. These artifacts became part of the museum’s extensive archaeological collection, which was later enriched through more recent excavation campaigns.