From 1925 onwards, this distillery began the industrial production of the famous Aurum liqueur – a golden orange liqueur based on brandy, whose name is a wordplay between the Latin “aurum” (gold) and “aurantium” (orange), coined by D’Annunzio himself.
The origins of Aurum date back to the early 20th century, when the magnificent building in Pescara’s Pineta Dannunziana was originally conceived as a luxurious bathing establishment called the Kursaal. Designed in 1910 by Antonino Liberi, it took on a completely new role in the 1920s when, at the initiative of poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, it was converted into a distillery. Renowned architect Giovanni Michelucci expanded the structure with a horseshoe layout and a two-storey loggia corridor at the rear – a remarkable blend of Art Nouveau and the rationalist style of the 1930s.
From 1925 onwards, this distillery began the industrial production of the famous Aurum liqueur – a golden orange liqueur based on brandy, whose name is a wordplay between the Latin “aurum” (gold) and “aurantium” (orange), coined by D’Annunzio himself. In the early 1970s, the production facilities were moved to Città Sant’Angelo and later, following a decision by the owner ILLVA Saronno, to Saronno in Lombardy.
After years of neglect, the historic Aurum building underwent extensive restoration in 2003. Today, it serves as a cultural centre and houses “Aurum – La fabbrica delle idee”, a museum celebrating both the history of liqueur production and the building’s architectural heritage. Visitors encounter an impressive example of industrial architecture nestled in a protected natural area that has become an integral part of the city’s cultural identity.
Even today, the Aurum tradition lives on – no longer in the old halls, but in the form of the liqueur itself, widely appreciated in Pescara and far beyond. The combination of local heritage, literary influence, and architectural innovation makes the story of Aurum one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of the Abruzzo region.
