Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory - 2026.01.24 - Padiglione Zappa situated approxi-mately 100 meters northeast of the main pavilion is the small Padiglione Zappa, named in honor of Giovanni Zappa, the Observatory’s first Director. This modest rectangular building, covering 24 square meters, is divided into two rooms: the first, originally fitted with a movable roof, was designed to accommodate Cooke’s photo-graphic camera; the second, smaller in scale, served as a darkroom for changing and developing photographic plates. A subterranean level, accessible from beneath the main entrance, spans the entire footprint of the structure.

In 1947, the original sliding roof was replaced by a newly constructed dome, whose installation took place between 1949 and 1950.

Today, the pavilion houses the XLT telescope, a reflector with an equatorial mount and Ritchey-Chrétien optical configuration, F/8 focal ratio, and a 40-cm primary mirror. The telescope is primarily employed for educational and outreach activities.