Stupor Mundi Federico II Experience Museum

If you are looking for relics or historical artefacts this is not the place, because this is an innovative experience that will literally take you back to the historical period in which Frederick II lived.

The museum is located in Jesi in the eponymous Piazza Frederick II where he was born on 26 December 1194. An imposing statue of the Emperor with the lion, symbol of the city, at his feet welcomes you at the entrance.

The museum is divided into 16 thematic rooms. The descriptive panels in the various sections are in Italian and English.

The Birth

Jesi birth city remained very much alive in Frederick II’s memory. He had always underlined the importance of the place of birth in the history of a man. There is a reconstruction of the tent where Frederick II was born, erected in the square in front of the cathedral.

The ancestors

The Swabian House of Hohenstaufen.

King of Germany

His conquest of Germany (1212-1215).

Animated films
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia
Animated films
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

The animated films by Sydonia Production alone are worth entry to the museum.

Emperor

The Imperial Coronation in Rome 1220.

Arab-Norman-Swabian Sicily

Frederick II, king of Sicily.

Lucera dei Saraceni

The rebellion of the Sicilian muslims 1222-1246.

The castles

Frederick II had numerous castles built in Italy. In this sense the museum also represents an opportunity to plan a tour of its splendid castles.

A model of Castel del Monte in Andria. Symbol of a harmonious mix of cultural elements from Northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity. A unique masterpiece of medieval architecture, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

The gate of Capua

An impressive fortified structure built by the Emperor in Rome in 1234. It sent an explicit message of contraposition between the Kingdom of Sicily and that of the Church.

Animated reconstruction of the Gate of Capua.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

The Popes and the Church

Frederick II was defined as "the Antichrist", he questioned temporal power and was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX twice.

The crusade

In 1227 Frederick II called for an atypical sixth crusade: he tried to gain dominion over the holy places through diplomacy rather than with weapons.

Knight on horseback with a digital screen depicting various scenes.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

Empire and Municipalities

The incredible legislative and economic efficiency in the administration of territories.

Falconry

You will find this room fascinating. A great falcon hunting enthusiast, Frederick II was the author of the most important falconry treatise of all time: "De arte venandi cum avibus".

Pictures depicting his falconry treatise
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia
A scene of the king sitting with a falcon
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

At the museum's small bookshop you can purchase the entire work which describes the techniques for training and using birds of prey for hunting.

Book describing techniques for training birds
PHOTOGRAPH BY Laura Arcadia

Cultures and knowledge

Frederick II was a cultured and literate man, his court was a meeting place of Greek, Latin, Arab, Jewish and Germanic civilizations. He promoted literature and poetry through the use of the Romance language.

Stupor Mundi

Incredible portrait of a far-sighted man, a charismatic and versatile personality who earned him the epiteth of “Stupor Mundi”.

The descendants

Among the many, Manfred of Sicily (1232-1266), Better known as Manfredi, was probably the most famous son of Frederick II as he was the last king of the Swabian dinasty. He died at the Battle of Benevento in 1266 against the invasion army of Charles I of Anjou, putting a saddly end to a magnificent period for South Italy that can be traced from the Arabian and Norman Ages.

The myth

The extraordinary story of the legendary Frederick II has come down to us and at the end of the exhibition it’s natural to ask: "if there were more Frederick IIs governing nowadays, wouldn't we live in a better world?".

www.federicosecondostupormundi.it

Ghislieri Palace, Piazza FedericoII 3

Open from Thursday to Sunday

Entrance fee: 7 euros

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Laura Arcadia

Laura is an independent researcher with a MA in Cultural Anthropology. Interculture, Migrations, Greek and Roman mythology, cults and rites. #viaggionellAde #storiastrologia #sacredplaces #mitologiagrecaeromana #Etruschi