Cidnea Astronomic Observatory

Perched on the San Marco bastion of Brescia Castle in northern Italy, the Cidnea Astronomic Observatory holds the distinction of being the first public observatory in the country.

About Cidnea Astronomic Observatory

The observatory occupies a striking position within Brescia's medieval castle complex, at Colle Via del Castello, giving visitors sweeping views over the city alongside its astronomical facilities. It was established as Italy's first observatory open to the general public, a role it continues to serve through education and outreach.

Telescopes & research

The site includes a planetarium dome three metres wide for sky shows, mobile reflecting telescopes set up on the castle terrace for live viewing, and a dedicated solar observation room for studying the Sun safely during the day.

Location & getting there

Cidnea Observatory sits within Brescia Castle in Lombardy, Italy, easily reached on foot from the historic city centre and combined naturally with a visit to the castle itself.

Visiting Cidnea Astronomic Observatory

The observatory runs public evenings and solar viewing sessions as part of Brescia Castle's cultural offering; check current dates and ticketing through the castle's own visitor information before you go.

See your named star from here

Star Register gives every named star exact coordinates, so a mobile telescope on the Cidnea terrace could be turned toward your star on a clear Brescia night. Name a star ahead of your trip, or explore the catalogue to see stars named nearby.