The 10 Best Things to do in Castelforte, Lazio

Reviewed By Vinvec

I had the very good fortune of visiting this museum in September, 2019. My grandparents were born in Castelforte and came to America in the 1920s. My father was born in 1930, and by 1939 his mother died and his father was incapacitated. My father went to foster homes and our Italian connections were blown away on the wings of time. After decades of searching, we found our family and my 89 year old father was able to meet many cousins and his still living uncle! But what does this have to do with this museum? Well, as an American, World War 2 was an epic historical event that happened somewhere else. There was very little personal impact. Except, unbeknownst to us, it impacted my family greatly. Shortly after my grandmother's death, Italy was drawn into the war and any attempt at my father's family finding him was severed. All my father knew was that he had family in Italy and they never came to save him. And then we got to visit the War Museum. History came alive. We learned of my father's uncles fighting in the war, some of whom were sent to French prison camps and Nazi Concentration Camps. I thought Germany and Italy were allies, so I didn't understand why until my visit to the museum. Not only did we learn about the devastation wrought by the fighting, we learned about the mass exodus of Castelforte's citizenry, and essential destruction of the village. My father was able to internalize what his family was suffering at a critical time in his own life. With maps, videos, exhibits, photos and historical memorabilia this museum helped explain and describe an important part of World history and my family's history. It was educational, informative, enlightening, moving and cathartic. Future visitors will be deprived of a very special, personal opportunity we had. My father's first cousin (whom he had never met), gave a re-telling of his father's experience in Nazi Concentration Camps and his death soon after returning home. Spectacularly, he kept a diary of his imprisonment which he hid away and which was discovered by chance in 2002. His briefcase and diary are maintained in the museum. But even if I didn't have a personal connection, I would have been fascinated by this museum and the knowledge and insight it offered. If you find yourself in the Castelforte area, take the time to pay a visit. It isn't expansive, but big enough to give a comprehensive understanding of the trauma and triumph of this brave village and its inhabitants. You'll be glad you did.