The "Terremoti d’Italia" exhibition arrives in Naples

The exhibition "Terremoti d’Italia" returns to Campania, promoted by the Civil Protection Department with the Campania Region, aiming to raise awareness among citizens and students about earthquakes and safety. Hosted at Città della Scienza (via Coroglio 57/104), a partner in the initiative, it opens Monday, April 20, at 10:00 AM, attended by the Head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano.

The Naples edition of the exhibition was organized by the Order of Engineers of the Province of Naples, the Inarcassa Foundation, and the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II. This marks the second stop in Campania. The exhibition had previously been hosted in Avellino last autumn, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the earthquake of November 23, 1980, as part of an initiative promoted by the Civil Protection Department and the Civil Protection of the Campania Region.

What triggers an earthquake? How should you protect yourself in the first seconds of a tremor? And how vulnerable is our territory? These are the key questions addressed by the exhibition—particularly relevant in Campania—through a clear and accessible educational path, guided by volunteers from Lares Italia and enriched with documents, images, technical tools, and interactive installations. At the heart of the exhibition are two seismic simulators that safely reproduce earthquake motion. In the "seismic room," visitors can experience the effects of an earthquake, comparing the impact of the November 23, 1980, event (magnitude 6.9) with the more recent March 13, 2025, earthquake (magnitude 4.6) recorded in the Campi Flegrei area. The "seismic city" simulator demonstrates how seismic-resistant buildings respond to ground shaking, highlights the crucial role of engineering innovation in reducing urban vulnerability, and improving safety in earthquake-prone areas.

Alongside its interactive installations, the exhibition also features a historical journey through the evolution of seismic detection instruments, from Zhang Heng’s seismoscope (132 AD) to today’s advanced territorial monitoring systems, including Italy’s National Accelerometric Network (RAN), whose operation visitors can explore in detail. During the visit, local volunteers accompany the public, offering practical guidance on the correct behaviors to adopt before, during, and after an earthquake. They also provide broader information on the main natural risks affecting the area, within the framework of the national campaign “I don’t take risks: good civil protection practices.” Prevention is not only a matter of emergency response, but also of individual awareness, construction quality, and the spread of a strong risk culture.

The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge from April 20 to May 9 at Città della Scienza.

The exhibition is open to schools from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, while the public can access freely from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM on weekdays, and on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. For citizens, a reservation is not required: entries are scheduled every thirty minutes and the visit—exclusively guided—lasts about an hour. Schools, on the other hand, can access every day by booking through the toll-free number 800.232525. Dedicated shuttles are also available for students.