Centro Visita di Ortona dei Marsi 'Entoma'

Entoma, the insect documentation centre at Ortona dei Marsi, occupies a former school building. Historic beetle and butterfly collections preserve a detailed record of entomological study associated with the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.

Why it matters

The collections draw attention to invertebrates within a protected landscape often associated with large mammals. Preserved specimens provide evidence for the identification and study of species, connecting local natural history with generations of scientific collecting.

What to notice

The collection includes beetles assembled by P. Luigioni and moths and butterflies from the Prola and Olivieri collections. Specimen boxes are complemented by Angelina Iannarelli's insect photographs, organised by taxonomic groups. Photography and preserved specimens offer different ways of observing the diversity and structure of insects.

Context and history

The centre developed through cooperation between the park authority, the municipality and entomologist Enrico Migliaccio. Its reuse of a village school links a scientific collection with a familiar community building. It belongs to the park's wider network of institutions devoted to different aspects of Apennine natural history, distinct from the coastal town of Ortona.