Guidonia Montecelio: the city of two souls

Reading time: 3 min

Where Medieval Heritage Meets the Spirit of Flight

Guidonia Montecelio is a city of intriguing contrasts, where two distinct worlds meet and mirror each other. On one side, there’s Montecelio, a medieval village perched on the rolling hills of the Roman Sabina, with its ancient stones, narrow streets, and charming viewpoints that whisper centuries of history. On the other, there’s the 20th-century city of Guidonia, born in the 1930s around the Alfredo Barbieri Military Airport—a symbol of modernity, technological ambition, and humanity’s fascination with flight and scientific discovery. This dual identity shines through in the city’s two main museums: one dedicated to ancient human history and civilizations, the other preserving the forward-looking, pioneering spirit of the last century.

The “Rodolfo Lanciani” Archaeological Museum: A Journey Through History and Myth

At the Civic Archaeological Museum “Rodolfo Lanciani,” housed in the evocative former convent of San Michele Arcangelo on Monte Albano hill, visitors can embark on a journey spanning millennia. Around the cloister and in the surrounding rooms of the ancient monastic complex, a rich collection of artifacts unfolds, covering the area of Guidonia Montecelio from Prehistory to the modern age.

Among its treasures stands the exquisite sculptural group of the Capitoline Triad, discovered in 1992 within the Roman villa of Inviolata. Carved from Lunense marble, this ensemble depicts Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva—the three protective deities of the ancient Roman state. It is a rare example of a complete Triad sculpture and a symbol of the spiritual and political energy that once animated the Roman Empire.

Visiting the Lanciani Museum is like walking through the pages of human history: everyday objects, funerary monuments, inscriptions, and artworks all tell the story of how people shaped these lands over time. The Capitoline Triad, with its imposing presence, seems to still guard and protect the memory of the territory, offering a direct dialogue with ancient Roman spirituality.

Alfredo Barbieri Military Airport and the DSSE: 20th-Century Aviation History

Just a short distance from Montecelio’s ancient past lies another chapter of Guidonia Montecelio’s story: the Alfredo Barbieri Military Airport, once the stage for groundbreaking aeronautical achievements and advanced research. Built between 1915 and 1916, the airport became in 1927 the headquarters of the Higher Directorate of Studies and Experiments (DSSE), a global center of excellence for aeronautical research before World War II, shaping flight and aerospace technologies.

Today, the airport area is poised for a new cultural chapter. Thanks to over 4 million euros in public funding from the Italian Prime Minister’s Office—Mission Structure for National Anniversaries and International Sporting Events—historic DSSE buildings are undergoing conservation and museum enhancement. Iconic spaces such as the hydrodynamic tank, wind tunnels, the power plant, and other laboratories are being restored and transformed into exhibition areas that celebrate the history of flight, technology, and innovation.

The project also includes the renovation of buildings near the airport entrance, which will host part of the museum route dedicated to the “City of the Air.” This cultural offering will connect ancient history and 20th-century aeronautics, uniting Montecelio and Guidonia in a single immersive narrative.

Two Stories, One Journey

This dual identity—ancient at the Lanciani Museum, modern and visionary at the DSSE—invites visitors to experience Guidonia Montecelio as more than a destination. Here, you can trace humanity’s evolution from Prehistory to the Roman era, and then witness the major technological achievements of the 20th century. A medieval village and a modern aeronautical city merge into a single itinerary, offering an unforgettable journey for every curious traveler.