The ‘Giuseppe Beccari’ Historical Museum in Voghera: a journey through Italian military memory

In the heart of Voghera, at number 1 bis of via Gramsci, stands one of the most complete and touching cultural centres of the entire Oltrepò Pavese: the ‘Giuseppe Beccari’ Historical Museum, dedicated to Italian and international military memory. A unique collection that makes it possible to retrace more than two centuries of history, among relics, documents and testimonies of lived life, in a path that winds its way from the Napoleonic period to the present day.

Image taken from the website of the ‘Giuseppe Beccari’ Historical Museum in Voghera

Between historical relics and symbols of freedom

The Museum is also known for housing exhibits of enormous symbolic and historical value. The most famous? The model 34 Beretta 9-calibre pistol used to execute Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci at Dongo on 28 April 1945. Alongside this symbolic object, you can also admire the A112 car in which General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa and his wife Emanuela Setti Carraro, victims of the Mafia in 1982, lost their lives.

Uniforms, weapons and memories from the front

The permanent collection includes Italian and foreign uniforms, light and heavy weapons, hundreds of medals, badges of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, diaries and letters from the front, postcards, posters, calendars and military prints. Particularly noteworthy are the military history library, which boasts thousands of volumes and archival documents, and thephotographic archive, an iconographic heritage without equal in the Italian museum scene.

Art and culture in the service of memory

The museum also houses important works of art. These include original tempera paintings by the painter and illustrator Tino Vescovo, a prestigious signature of Italian military graphics, and a collection of paintings by local painters, including Mario Maserati, brother of the founder of the car manufacturer of the same name.

Local context and education

In addition to testimonies of the great wars, the museum also dedicates space to the history of Voghera and the Oltrepò Pavese, with sections that delve into civil and cultural aspects of local life. The route is only accessible on the ground floor, but is rich in content and emotional and educational experiences.

Useful information

• Address: Via Gramsci 1 bis, 27058 Voghera (PV)
• Opening hours:
  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 15:00 to 17:30
• Admission ticket:
  Full € 5.00 – Reduced € 3.00 (students in groups, members of military associations, TCI)
• Official site: https://museostoricogbeccari.it
• Accessibility: only accessible on the ground floor

How to get there

Voghera can be easily reached by train (Milan-Genoa line) or by car via the A21 Turin-Piacenza-Brescia motorway, Voghera exit. The museum is located a few minutes from the town centre, with parking available in the area.