This itinerary is about art and nature, more precisely about street art.
Many artists have been invited here to represent the territory of Bassa Romagna.
The murals and the installations will surprise us with their stories, closely tied with the stories of the places and their inhabitants.
Follow us on the discovery of these beautiful contemporary artworks embedded in the countryside of Romagna!
PRACTICAL INFO
INFO
- Interests: culture, knowledge of the territory, art
- Duration: 48 h
- Lenght: 59 km
- Target: Groups, Friends, Couples
- When: All year round
ITINERARY
FIRST STOP – Cotignola
The journey starts in Cotignola, the municipality of Bassa Romagna with the highest number of murals: since 2013 with the project “Dal museo al paesaggio” (from museum to landscape), many of the most famous Italian and international street artists have decides to represent the town through the memories of its inhabitants and its most meaningful historical events.
The starting point is in the town centre and the final destination is the Arena delle balle di paglia (Arena of haystacks), a magical floodplain under the Senio river bank.
- Signora K and James Kalinda, “Lucia Terzani da Torciano”, via Pascoli (2016)
These two artworks represent two historical figures who lived in the Cotignola area: Signora K depicts Lucia Terzani da Torciano, who was famous for being Muzio Attendolo Sforza’s lover. The latter is represented by James Kalinda on the next wall. The famous Francesco Sforza was born out of their relationship. - Collettivo FX, “Non-automatic distributor of courage”, piazzale Amendola (2015)
Distributore non automatico di coraggio (non-automatic distributor of courage) Collettivo FX’s mural represents the Quattro Giusti cotignolesi (the four just men from Cotignola), i Sette Martiri del Senio (the sever martyrs of the Senio river) shot dead by the Nazis in 1944, il partigiano Leno Casadio (partisan Leno Casadio) and Don Stefano Casadio (Father Stefano Casadio), who liberated Cotignola, and last the young partigiano Esiodo Rava (partisan Esidio Rava). The artwork pays tribute to those who sacrificed their life for the Liberation and is located right under the banks of Senio river, a very meaningful place for the partisan fight. Collettivo FX is an artist from Reggio Emilia, particularly engaged in political-social topics. - Zosen Bandido and Mina Hamada, Gio Pistone e Martoz – via Cairoli (2018)
Murals on the wall of the Scuola di Arti e Mestieri: these artists, through their style, re-draw the characters and symbols of Cotignyork, namely the town of Cotignola re-interpreted from a fantasy and adventurous perspective. Zosen and Mina, an art duo in work and life, come from Spain (Mina has Asian origin); Gio Pistone and Martoz are Italian artists. - Hyuro, “L’arzdora”, via Roma (2018)
L’arzdora, this is the title of Hyuro’mural. She is an Argentinean artist who acquired Spanish citizenship. She prematurely passed way in 2020. She tells about women empowerment inside patriarchal families. Hyuro was famous for dealing with social topics about women in modern society. - DEM, “Simboli e protezione”, villaggio UNRRA, between via Pascoli and via Alighieri (2019)
Unrra village (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) is a district built after the Second World War and is part of an architectural project aimed at re-building areas badly hit by the conflict. DEM, artist from Lombardy, paints symbols of protection that tell about the philosopher and anthropologist Ernesto de Martino’s stay in Cotignola during the months of front passage. - Reve+ e Borondo – Arena delle Balle di paglia (2016 e 2013)
The mural by Reve+ from Reggio Emilia, titled Papaveri&Upupe is located on the side of a country house along the road that takes to Arena delle balle di paglia. The artist, specialized in the creation of artworks inspired by the fauna and flora that he encounters, dedicates this wall to Poppies and Hoopoes, flowers and birds that are typical of the Romagna countryside.
Borondo, a famous Spanish artist, paints very close to the bank where the Senio river meets with Canale Emiliano Romagnolo. Volti (faces) is the title of the artwork; it shows two faces, painted with the artist’s unmistakable style, a gestural style consisting of many layered caricatures.
Street and land art events: in a natural landscape that tells of the visible and the invisible, the magical Arena of haystacks returns every year in July; unmissable appointments between narratives, music and art.
Point of interest BUDRIO
Collettivo FX, “La Madonna dell’Adesso o già pronta”, via Gaggio (2017)
The artwork tells us about the close bond between the Budrio community and the Virgin Mary, celebrated every summer.
Point of interest: BARBIANO
FX, “SS. Madre Incoronata del Risveglio”, via del Castello (2017). This artwork is part of the artist’s National project called La Madonna dell’Adesso, which represents the contemporary relationship between the citizens and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nicola Alessandrini, “LI EXT AB IT”, via Alberico (2017)
The mural represents the ferocious Alberico da Barbiano, displayed as a message against any type of violence.
Last, the public installation by Gino Pellegrini titled Stemmi, piazza Alberico (2011, a decorative intervention to embellish the square)
SECOND STOP – Lugo
- Luogo Comune, Omaggio a Gioacchino Rossini, via Amendola (2018): the artist displays an ironic alphabet where many of Rossini’s characters appear, creating a sort of hieroglyph that involves the spectator.
- Alessandra Carloni, Francesco Baracca, via Lumagni (2018): the artwork shows Francesco Baracca from a new perspective: not only an aviator but a dreamer.
THIRD STOP – Fusignano
Here we find Collettivo FX with a mural located in via Curiel, titled Sciopero alla rovescia (2017) (backward strike), a particular form of protest occurred in 1950s: labourers who lost their job continued relentlessly to work on the fields as a form of rebellion.
FOURTH STOP- Alfonsine
Here is the mural by Ericailcane and Bastardilla, a famous couple of artists: he is Italian, she is Colombian, they are a couple also in life. The artwork plays tribute to the Partisan Resistance, in one of its symbolic places. The two authors, very famous in the field of urban art, use their art to fight against any form of repression and totalitarianism.
Point of interest
Stinkfish al Parcobaleno, via Galimberti (2017). The artwork is part of the project promoted by CUMA Project, which has been supporting indigenous populations of Latin America for many years.
Street and land art events: in the summer season (June-September) it is possible to visit the ephemeral Labyrinth of the Galassi Farm; a labyrinth that was born in 2007 as one of the largest dynamic labyrinths in the world, rebuilt every year in the company’s corn field. From 2019 there is also the suspended Labyrinth, a real work of land art that plays on the concept of heaven and earth using recycled and biodegradable materials.
FIFTH STOP – Villanova di Bagancavallo
Here we find the Public Park and Ecomuseo delle Erbe Palustri – Ecomuseum of Marsh Herbs (via Ungaretti) with the installation of the Spanish artist Joan Farré, La Ca de Mazapegul (2018).
The installation is made of organic materials typical of the Lamone river. Its shape reminds of the hat of mazapegul, a pixie of the Romagna popular tradition. The artwork was conceived and built for children.
Street and land art events: in September in Villanova di Bagnacavallo the Marsh herb festival is held. A unique party with re-enactment of the nineteenth-century techniques of processing marsh grass, workshops, exhibitions, markets, shows, meetings and gastronomy. (restored in 2021)
Discover other street and land art works of Bassa Romagna! Click here
Fountain Map realised by Ciclo Guide Lugo