Specola

The Specola Astronomica Cidnea is the first public astronomical observatory in Italy and is located on the San Marco bastion of the Brescia Castle.

Established in 1953 thanks to the initiative of Angelo Ferretti Torricelli and the involvement of the then mayor of the Municipality of Brescia, Bruno Boni.

From 1953 to 1965 Torricelli promoted the publication of a Yearbook, entitled “Guardare il firmamento dalla Specola Cidnea”.

Angelo Ferretti Torricelli was appointed director of the Observatory until 1970 and, later, the task fell to Professor Alvero Valetti. Since 1986, the management and activities are managed by the Unione Astrofili Bresciani, in collaboration with the Museo di Scienze Naturali.

The building, semicircular in shape, welcomes visitors with an exhibition area, where astronomical instruments and photographs of celestial objects are collected.

In the center, on the upper floor, is the dome that housed the refractor ‘Ruggieri’ of 12 cm in diameter, entered into operation on 30 May 1953 and now on display at the entrance of the Observatory, recently replaced by a modern 15cm apochromatic refractor on a computerized mount. On the southern side, there is the terrace where mobile instruments are placed, among which stand out a large Schmidt-Cassegrain of 28cm and a giant binoculars equipped for autonomous use by children.

The management and activities are organized by the association Unione Astrofili Bresciani, in collaboration with the Museo di Scienze Naturali.

Specola

Info: astrofilibresciani.it

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